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Cheema to present fifth and final Budget before 2027 polls on International Women’s Day
Chandigarh: The Budget session of the Punjab Assembly commenced on Thursday with the inaugural address by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, setting the stage for a politically charged debate between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Opposition.
While the AAP government is expected to highlight its welfare initiatives and development programmes, Opposition parties are gearing up to corner the government over the state’s mounting public debt, which has crossed ₹4 lakh crore, and what they describe as a deteriorating law-and-order situation.
Final Budget Before 2027 Assembly Elections
The 11-day session will see the AAP government present its fifth and final Budget ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema is scheduled to present the Budget proposals on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
In a first for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Budget will be presented on a Sunday.
Women-Centric Welfare Announcement Likely
Sources indicated that the government may announce a monthly honorarium of ₹1,000 for women, a key promise made by the AAP during the Assembly elections.
The move is widely seen as an effort to strengthen support among women voters, who constitute nearly 48 per cent of Punjab’s electorate, ahead of the next Assembly polls.
Political Showdown Expected in House
The session is expected to witness intense debates as the Opposition, led by the Congress and other parties, plans to question the government over fiscal management, rising debt, and governance issues.
The ruling AAP, on the other hand, is likely to defend its record by highlighting welfare schemes such as free electricity, healthcare initiatives, education reforms and other social programmes launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. With the state moving closer to the next electoral cycle, the Budget session is expected to carry strong political messaging from both sides of the aisle.
