J&K Budget session begins today

Jammu, Feb 1: The budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (LA) is commencing from tomorrow, February 2, 2026 with the treasury and the opposition sides gearing up to lit the House with the “political ammunition” while trying to corner each other.

Eve of the budget session witnessed a string of meetings of the key political parties to chalk out strategies for “political fireworks” that would lit up the session.

The session will begin with the address of the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) at 10 am.

Later, the Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather will report and lay the copy of the Lieutenant Governor’s address on the table (in the House).

Thereafter the Speaker will announce the names of the panel of chairmen. The first day’s proceedings will be wrapped up with the obituary references. Speaker would make references on the demise of Ghulam Mohammad Khan, ex MLA and Khwaja Ghulam Mohammad Lone, ex-MLC.

This will be the second budget session of the Union Territory government led by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

On the eve of commencement of budget session, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators on Sunday held their meeting participated by its all 29 MLAs, including the Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma to finalise its stratagem and deliberate issues to be raised in the session to pin down the National Conference-led government.

“The party being the opposition party will focus on all public issues including those of daily wagers; employment, National Law University etc. We will highlight the government’s failure to address people’s issues. While sticking to the party’s official stance on all issues, we’ll try to corner the government on the governance deficit – was the resolve of the party during the meeting,” BJP MLA R S Pathania stated, while speaking to Great Kashmir on the sidelines of the meeting.

BJP is advocating for the establishment of two National Law Universities. The party has already made it clear that it will ensure the judicious use of central flood relief package focussing more on the Jammu region which faced maximum devastation in the natural calamities during August and September in 2025.

National Conference chief spokesperson and MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq NC spokesperson, while responding to Greater Kashmir queries, shared, “The NC Legislature party meeting will be held tomorrow at 4 pm. Joint meeting with coalition partners will be held thereafter.”

When asked about the government’s strategy to take on the opposition’s onslaught in the House, Tanvir Sadiq asserted, “The government has a strong and credible record to place before the people. There are many tangible achievements on the ground from infrastructure and connectivity to public services and governance that speak louder than rhetoric.”

“The opposition, unfortunately, has not only failed in its role as a constructive opposition, but has also failed the very people who voted them into the House. Instead of raising people’s issues, they have chosen disruption, misinformation, and political point-scoring. The government will counter the opposition with facts, performance, and outcomes, not noise. Our confidence comes from the trust of the people and work delivered on the ground,” he stated.

However, the NC’s alliance partner, Congress convened its legislature party meeting on Sunday.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra chaired the meeting, attended by AICC general secretary and CLP leader G A Mir, Nizammudin Bhat, Irfan Hafiz Lone and Iftikhar Ahmed.

“MLA and former minister Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed couldn’t attend the meeting due to ill health. The meeting discussed the current situation and the broad range of issues of public concern to be taken up during the course of budget session, especially the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims, the issues of daily wagers, need based, casual, contractual and other categories of temporary employees, large scale unemployment, inflation besides the delay in the restoration of statehood,” stated JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma.

“The party will also raise the matter pertaining to effects of the closure of MGNREGA in J&K. Apart from this all those issues of common people including development, welfare, services including water, power and connectivity, health and education will be highlighted,” Sharma said.

He asserted that the Congress legislators would focus on the needs of the people and discharge their responsibilities towards their electorate in an effective manner besides countering the communal and divisive agenda in the Assembly.

In all probability, the session will also see the issues of “separate Jammu state”, “withdrawal ofLetter of Permission to SMVDIME by NMC” and business rules generating heat in the House.

With regard to approval to business rules, speculations remained rife that the J&K (elected) government got Centre’s approval to its proposal. However, there was no official word on it.

The government is likely to face the opposition’s onslaught viss-a-vis its failure to fulfill budget promises with particular focus on monthly free 200 units of electricity for families identified under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Recruitment fast-tracking of recruitment for vacant positions in the public sector.

The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Finance Minister, will present his second budget of J&K Union Territory, for the year 2026-27, on February 6, 2026.

The session will culminate on April 4, 2026.

Spread to 62 days for the first time, the budget session will have a 35-day long recess from February 20 to March 26, 2026, on account of the holy month of Ramadan followed by Eid festival.

As per the provisional calendar issued by J&K Legislative Assembly secretariat, there will be a total 22 sittings of the fifth session of the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Following the presentation of Annual Financial Statement of Expenditure for the year 2026-27 and the presentation of Supplementary Statement of Expenditure for the year 2025-2026 on February 6, general discussion on budget will start on February 7 and it will be resumed on February 9 after Sunday holiday on February 8.

General discussion on budget will continue on February 9 and 10. The Chief Minister will reply to the general discussion on the budget on February 10, 2026.

The session will see the passage of the budget after the recess period on March 27, 2026, which has been kept reserved for Appropriation Bills. Notably, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had presented his maiden budget of Rs 1,12,310 Cr for the J&K UT on March 7, 2025.