PANAJI:
Amid uproar and protests from the Opposition benches, the Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday passed the State Budget for 2026–27 after the government decided to curtail the ongoing Budget Session following the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct in parts of the state ahead of the Ponda by-election 2026.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant refused to opt for a Vote on Account and instead pushed for the passage of the full Budget, citing the extraordinary circumstances arising out of the election code as well as the upcoming municipal polls. The Budget was passed amid strong protests by Opposition MLAs, who were later marshalled out of the House.
During the proceedings, Opposition MLAs rushed to the well of the House and raised slogans against the government. As the House continued with the Budget passage, the protesting members shouted “shame, shame,” following which they were ordered to be marshalled out.
Sawant said the government had decided to curtail the ongoing Budget Session and hold a separate Monsoon Session later in the year. “The government has decided to curtail the Budget Session and convene a Monsoon Session later. With the by-election and upcoming municipal elections, we have decided to pass the full State Budget instead of opting for a Vote on Account,” the Chief Minister said.
The Budget Session was originally scheduled to continue till March 27 but had to be shortened after the Model Code of Conduct came into force in South Goa following the announcement of the by-election.
However, the decision drew sharp criticism from the Opposition, which accused the government of denying them the opportunity to raise key public issues during the remainder of the session.
Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai termed the move an “injustice to the Opposition” and recalled that a similar situation had arisen in 2013 during the tenure of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Sardesai said that Parrikar had then curtailed the Assembly session due to the extraordinary circumstances but opted for a four-month Vote on Account, with the full Budget being passed later during the July session.
“In 2013, the government had chosen a democratic route by bringing a Vote on Account and allowing detailed discussion later. What has been done today is an injustice to the Opposition that wanted to raise its demands,” Sardesai said.
The passage of the Budget amid protests effectively brought the curtailed Budget Session to a close, with the government indicating that further legislative business would now be taken up during the Monsoon Session.
