West Bengal Assembly Budget Session may end early as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee prepares to attend a crucial Supreme Court hearing on Special Intensive Revision, amid political tensions, interim budget presentation, and proposed motions against SIR and central agencies.
The schedule of the ongoing Budget Session of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly is likely to undergo a change due to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s proposed visit to New Delhi on February 9, when she is scheduled to participate in a crucial hearing related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) before a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court.
Initially, February 9 had been earmarked as the concluding day of the Budget Session. However, developments surrounding the Supreme Court hearing have prompted the state government to consider advancing the final sitting of the Assembly. According to sources within the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), February 7, which falls on a Saturday, may now be designated as the last day of the session.
Assembly proceedings are generally not conducted on Saturdays, except under exceptional circumstances. A senior member of the Trinamool Congress’ legislative team acknowledged that the present situation qualifies as a rare and significant occasion. The leader stated that the Chief Minister’s personal participation in the Supreme Court hearing is of paramount importance, and legislative scheduling is being reviewed to ensure there is no conflict.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been closely involved in the SIR-related legal proceedings. Earlier this week, she was present in the Supreme Court and personally argued the matter, underscoring the political and constitutional importance the state government attaches to the issue. The SIR process has emerged as a major point of contention between the West Bengal government and the central authorities, with the ruling party alleging procedural irregularities and political targeting.
Amid these developments, the Budget Session remains crucial from a financial and political standpoint. The West Bengal Minister of State for Finance (independent charge), Chandrima Bhattacharya, is scheduled to present the interim, or vote-on-account, budget in the Assembly at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. The interim budget will outline the government’s expenditure plans until a full budget is presented later in the financial year.
In addition to budgetary business, the Treasury Bench is expected to introduce two special motions during the session. The first motion will formally condemn the ongoing Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal, reflecting the state government’s opposition to the exercise. The second motion is expected to criticize the functioning of central investigative agencies, particularly the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), in the state.
The second motion carries heightened significance in the wake of recent controversies involving the Enforcement Directorate. The ED conducted simultaneous raid and search operations at the Salt Lake office of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and at the Loudon Street residence of I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain in central Kolkata. These actions triggered strong political reactions across the state.
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During the raids, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by senior bureaucrats and top police officials, visited both locations in quick succession. She reportedly left with several files and electronic documents from the premises, a move that has since become the subject of legal scrutiny. The matter is currently pending before the Supreme Court, further adding to the legal and political complexity surrounding the Budget Session.
With multiple high-stakes issues converging—budgetary decisions, legislative motions, and Supreme Court proceedings—the final schedule of the West Bengal Assembly’s Budget Session is expected to be finalized after careful consideration in the coming days.
