Kerala Budget 2023: State's budget session kicks off with Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's speech— Check details

Budget 2023: The Kerala Assembly's budget session began today, January 23. This year the Budget session will be held for 33 days.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan during the opening address said, “My government is committed to protecting constitutional values which are presently facing many challenges. My government is always committed to protecting freedom of press. A strong nation has to have a strong Centre, empowered states & actively functioning local governments.”

"The spirit of legislation and the intention of the legislature has to be protected," PTI quoted him as saying.

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He further said that Kerala Government is committed to protecting constitutional values "which are presently facing many challenges."

"Hegemonic tendencies in religious, linguistic and other arenas hamper building of a robust democracy, which respects diversity for strengthening its unity," the Governor added.

Therefore, he said that special efforts need to be made to defend democracy, secularism, plural values and federalism, which are the important foundations of our national unity and part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

Kerala Assembly's Budget session schedule

The debate on the motion of thanks for the Governor's speech is scheduled on January 25, February 1 and 2.

Finance Minister K N Balagopal will present the LDF government's budget for the next financial year on February 3.

The legislature will debate the budget for three days from February 6 to 8.

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On Sunday, January 22, Kerala Legislative speaker AN Shamseer had informed ANI that the session will end on March 30 and is the eighth session of the 15th legislative assembly in Kerala.

“The 15th assembly's eighth session will start from January 23 to March 30. It is a prolonged session. The governor will address the session on January 23 and there will be a discussion on the address on January 25, February 1 and 2, following the presentation of the budget on February 3. It would be a prolonged session to pass the budget. We expect cooperation from the opposition and the treasury bench," Shamseer told ANI.

The Union Budget session is likely to begin from January 31 and is expected to conclude on April 6 with a recess in between.

(With PTI and ANI inputs)

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