Budget session duration to be curtailed amidst rise in cases

The duration of the budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature has been curtailed in view of a spike in the COVID-19 cases in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra. Instead of four weeks, the session will take place for eight working days from March 1 to March 10. State Governor BS Koshyari will address both the houses of the state legislature on the first day March 1 and the state government will, thereaf ter, submit supplementary demands.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the Finance and Planning Department, will present the annual budget for 202122 on March 8. The election to the post of assembly speaker will not take place during the ensuing budget session, as several ministers and legislators are recovering from COVID-19. The post has been lying vacant af ter incumbent Nana Patole resigned. Deputy speaker Narhari Zirval, along with the other presiding officers, will conduct the business of the assembly. -