Tamil Nadu Interim Budget Session Set for February 17 Before Elections

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will reconvene on February 17 for the presentation of the state’s interim Budget for the financial year 2026–2027, Speaker M. Appavu announced on Saturday. The session comes ahead of Assembly elections expected in April or May this year, underscoring its political significance.

Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu is scheduled to present the interim Budget on the opening day, outlining the government’s fiscal priorities and seeking legislative approval to manage expenditures during the election period. The session will also include discussion on the demand for advance grants for 2026–2027.

In addition, proposals for additional expenditure for the current financial year, 2025–2026, will be tabled on February 20. The exact duration and schedule of the Assembly session are yet to be finalised, with the Business Advisory Committee set to determine the number of sittings.

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Speaker Appavu highlighted steps to improve legislative transparency, including expanded live coverage of Assembly debates. Currently, the question hour and ministers’ replies are broadcast live, with plans to extend real-time streaming to discussions on demand for grants.

The digitisation of past Assembly records is also underway, allowing public access to historical proceedings from anywhere in the world. Appavu dismissed opposition allegations of speech interruptions during live telecasts, stating that time slots are strictly adhered to without disruption.

With the interim Budget set to detail the government’s immediate fiscal roadmap, the upcoming session is expected to be crucial for shaping Tamil Nadu’s economic narrative and political discourse ahead of the elections.

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