Home Legislative Assembly Begins From 25 March

Assembly Begins From 25 March

Bhubaneswar: The Budget Session of Odisha Legislative Assembly will start from March 25 and continue till March 31. However, a full-flagged Budget for the year 2022-23 will not be presented.

Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari will present a Vote on Account Budget for the first four months of the new financial year, sources said.  

“The Budget Session of Assembly will start with the Governor’s address on March 25 and a motion of thanks will be moved on the same day. Discussion on the Governor’s address will be held on March 26 & 28,” said Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro.

There will be no meeting on March 27 as it is a Sunday. March 29 has been kept reserved for official businesses, he said.

The Vote on Account Budget for the 2022-23 will be presented on March 29 and discussion on the Budget will be conducted on the same day. The Appropriation Bill on Vote on Account will be laid before the House on the concluding day (March 31), said the Speaker.

Asked about any restriction to be imposed for this session in view of Covid-19, Mr.Patro said he will hold discussion with the Health Department officials to take a decision to this effect.  

According to sources, the Government has decided to table Vote on Account Budget due to the imposition of Model Code of Conduct on account of Panchayat and Urban polls.  

It is mandatory for the Finance Minister to present the annual Budget in Assembly before the end of the financial year and receive the clearance of the House. The Department of Finance had also made all preparations for the full Budget. However, due to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for twin polls, the Department has moved to present the Vote on Account.     

The State Government had presented vote-on-account in the Assembly earlier in 2009, 2014 and 2019 General Elections.