Kolkata, 10 February (H.S.): The budget session of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly is set to begin today, marking a significant development with Governor C.V. Ananda Bose addressing the House, reinstating a parliamentary tradition that was skipped last year.
In 2023, the budget session commenced without the customary governor’s address, as the assembly was adjourned sine die. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), which had a strained relationship with the Raj Bhavan, justified the omission, stating that the session was merely a continuation of the previous one. However, this year, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay has confirmed that the session will follow the conventional format with the governor’s speech.
State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya will present the budget on February 12. The session will then see discussions on both the governor’s address and the budget, continuing until February 19. The Assembly will reconvene in March for further proceedings.
Last year, the state government argued that since the 2023 winter session was not prorogued but only adjourned indefinitely, a fresh governor’s address was not mandatory. Speaker Biman Banerjee also supported this stance.
Governor Bose’s tenure, which began in November 2022, has been marked by frequent clashes between the Raj Bhavan and the TMC government over various issues. However, in recent months, there have been visible signs of easing tensions. The return of the governor’s address to inaugurate the budget session suggests a possible thaw in relations, paving the way for smoother legislative proceedings.
Hindusthan Samachar
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