Sikkim Assembly Sets July Budget Session Date Amid Backlash

Gangtok: Sikkim lawmakers will gather at the Gangtok Assembly Hall on July 20. The session kicks off at 11:00 am. Speaker Mingma Norbu Sherpa issued the formal notification on June 25 to force the House back into action under Rule 16 of the legislative procedure rules.

This move follows weeks of pointed criticism from opposition parties. They claim the state government failed to present the annual budget on time. The session was originally slotted for late June, but the state bumped the date back. Critics now demand answers regarding the fiscal delay. One opposition leader noted the situation is "unusual" and requires immediate government clarification.

Lawmakers will face tough questions during the upcoming sitting. The agenda will zero in on the missing budget and broader concerns regarding state financial management. The wait for the budget has stalled development discussions for the current fiscal year.