Stormy start expected for Budget Session today as LoP issues boycott threat

Delhi's Budget Session opens with a boycott threat from AAP's Atishi over suspended legislators amid expectations for intense discussions.

The three-day Budget Session of the Delhi Assembly is expected to begin on a stormy note on Monday (March 23, 2026), with Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Sunday (March 22, 2026) threatening to boycott proceedings if the suspension of four party legislators is not revoked.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports on the State’s finances and audits of revenue, economic, and social sectors of the Capital are set to be tabled on Monday. The budget will be presented by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also holds the Finance portfolio, on Tuesday. Ms. Gupta will also present the Economic Survey of Delhi (2025-26).

Ahead of the session, Ms. Atishi wrote to Speaker Vijender Gupta, saying the treatment meted out to the Opposition was not in line with democratic values or established legislative procedures. “It is natural that when the ruling side says something wrong, we will question it. We will raise our voice, walk out of the House. When I spoke to the media, a privilege case was filed against me. What I said in the House was twisted and turned into a breach of privilege case,” she said.

“What does the BJP want? Does it want the Opposition to become completely silent and not speak at all? ...In the past year, in every session, some case or another has been made against our MLAs,” she said at a press conference.

The four suspended AAP MLAs Ms. Atishi referred to are Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha, Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar, Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh, and Sadar Bazar MLA Som Dutt. They were suspended during the Winter Session in January for “disrupting” proceedings of the House. Their suspension continues as the previous sitting of the House was not prorogued. Ms. Atishi said the party would take to the streets with “lakhs of people in their constituencies” if the voice of the Opposition was suppressed. The ruling BJP has 48 MLAs in the Assembly while AAP, the main Opposition party, has 22.

Ahead of the budget presentation, the Chief Minister said the document had been prepared after consultations with various sections of society, including gig workers, traders, women, youth, and farmers, to incorporate their suggestions and expectations. Ms. Gupta said the welfare-oriented budget would present clear solutions to problems, strengthen infrastructure and lay out a road map for a developed Delhi.