Amid Covid-19 surge, Maharashtra curtails Budget Session

Amid the speedy northward movement of the Covid-19 graph in Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government on Thursday curtailed the tenure of the Budget Session amid severe protests by Opposition BJP.

The Budget Session has been fixed for 1-10 March, which was earlier planned to be held for the full month.

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It may be recalled that on February 21, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had expressed serious concern over the rising cases and wondered if it could trigger a second wave.

On March 1, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari will address the joint session of the Maharashtra legislature. On March 8, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the Finance and Planning portfolios, would table the state Budget for the year 2021-22.

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“The budget session would be held from 1-10 March,” said parliamentary affairs minister Anil Parab.

Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis has accused the MVA government of trying to curtail the upcoming Budget Session of the state legislature on the pretext of increasing Covid-19 cases.