Kerala Budget session to begin on Jan 17 with Governor’s policy address

The 13th session of the 15th Kerala Assembly includes the State Budget presentation and discussions on various topics.

The 13th session of the 15th Kerala Assembly will begin on Friday (January 17, 2025) with a policy address by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal will present the State Budget on February 7.

In a departure from routine, the customary Question Hour, with which the normal business of the Assembly begins every day at 9 a.m., stands cancelled on January 20, 21 and 22. Speaker A.N. Shamseer attributed it to the additional workload shouldered by the Legislature Secretariat staff on account of the just-concluded Kerala Legislature International Book Festival (KLIBF) 2025.

“The decision was taken in accordance with Rule 26 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. It was not meant to deny the rights of the Opposition, and should not be construed as such,” said Mr. Shamseer.

In view of the seven-day KLIBF held from January 7 to 13, the Assembly staff was hard-pressed for time with regard to the preparations for Question Hour. “It was the Assembly’s need since the staff needed breathing space after KLIBF,” he said.

Mr. Shamseer said he hoped that the Congress-led UDF Opposition would “cooperate” as the 13th session was a long one which offered it enough opportunities to ask questions.

(Rule 26 says: ‘Unless the Speaker otherwise directs, the first hour of every sitting shall be available for the asking and answering of questions.’)

On the delay by certain Ministers in providing written replies on time to questions posed in the Assembly, Mr. Shamseer said there has been significant improvement in this regard. Answers were a member’s right, he said, expressing the hope that all Ministers would comply with this requirement by the end of the upcoming session.