Shimla, February 16:
The Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha opened on Monday with the Governor’s address setting off an immediate political debate, signalling that the session is likely to be marked by confrontation rather than consensus.
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla addressed the House in the afternoon, outlining the government’s policy direction, fiscal priorities and welfare commitments.
However, even before the ink dried on the address, opposition members raised objections, questioning both the content and omissions in the speech, particularly on the state’s deteriorating financial position.
The opposition BJP alleged that the Governor’s address glossed over the gravity of the financial crisis facing Himachal Pradesh, especially after the discontinuation of Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG).
BJP legislators argued that the address projected an overly optimistic picture, while avoiding accountability on rising debt, delayed payments and shrinking development expenditure.
Treasury benches defended the address, maintaining that the speech reflected the government’s commitment to social welfare, fiscal correction and protection of the state’s interests before the Centre.
Debate Sets Tone for the Session
The debate on the Governor’s address is now expected to dominate the initial sittings of the session, with both sides preparing detailed interventions.
The ruling Congress is likely to use the debate to press its demand for restoration of RDG, while also blaming previous regimes for pushing the state into a debt trap.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, speaking briefly after the address, reiterated that safeguarding Himachal’s financial rights would remain the government’s top priority.
Following the Governor’s speech, the House was adjourned for the day, but political activity intensified outside the Assembly.
Separate strategy meetings were held by both the Congress and the BJP, finalising floor tactics for the debate ahead.
Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania indicated that while only three sittings are scheduled in the first phase till February 18, the duration could be extended depending on the volume of debate and legislative business.
With the possibility of heated exchanges and public protests, the Shimla administration stepped up security arrangements.
Nearly 900 police and home guard personnel were deployed around the Vidhan Sabha complex, with designated protest zones notified to prevent disruption of proceedings.
Beyond the Governor’s address debate, the session is expected to take up pressing issues such as the state’s fiscal health, salary and pension liabilities, power subsidies, and funding for disaster-prone regions.Here is a clean, authoritative rewrite as a formal statement by the Chief Minister, suitable for a news story or verbatim attribution:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told media that the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) is a constitutional right of Himachal Pradesh and other hill states, provided under the Constitution to bridge the gap between expenditure and income where revenue deficits are structurally high.
He said RDG was granted precisely because hill states face inherent limitations in generating revenue, adding that nearly 90 per cent of Himachal Pradesh’s geographical area is hilly, making it impossible to establish large industries or mega projects that could significantly boost income.
“The RDG is not a favour but a matter of right for the people of Himachal Pradesh. That is why this special session has been convened—to know the stand of the opposition BJP on this crucial issue,” the Chief Minister said.
He asserted that the grant must continue from 2026 to 2031, as the state’s financial structure continues to depend largely on its own limited resources and support from the Central government in the form of RDG.
The Chief Minister pointed out that even the small industrial base that has come up in the state has not yielded substantial revenue, as several units are operating under tax concessions or are effectively benefiting neighbouring states like Punjab through business and billing mechanisms.
“Given these realities, RDG is an absolute necessity for Himachal Pradesh and must continue at all costs. The BJP must clearly state its position on this issue, as it directly concerns the constitutional rights and financial security of the people of Himachal,” he said.
On the orhervJai Ram Thakur told media that no one knows whether it is a budget session or special session as the members have been kept in the dark as and when the budget will be presented .
All-Party Meeting Held in Cordial Atmosphere Ahead of Budget Session: Speaker Pathania
Speaker told media that the allparty meeting was attended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, Deputy Chief Whip Keval Singh Pathania, and BJP Chief Whip Sukh Ram Chaudhary.
“The Opposition should responsibly raise public interest issues and seek answers from the government, while it is equally the government’s duty to provide timely and factual replies to questions and information sought,” Pathania said.
He further informed that notifications have been issued for three sittings of the ongoing Budget Session from February 16 to 18, 2026, adding that the duration of the session could be extended if required.
