The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is set to reconvene on February 17 to present the state’s interim Budget for the financial year 2026-2027, as announced by Speaker M. Appavu. The session, starting at 9.30 a.m., precedes the upcoming Assembly elections anticipated in April or May this year. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu will present the interim Budget on the session’s opening day, outlining the government’s financial plans and priorities.
The government will seek the legislature’s approval for managing expenditure during the election period. In addition to the interim Budget, the Finance Minister will present proposals for advance grants for 2026–2027 and seek approval for additional expenditure for the current financial year, 2025–2026, on February 20. The duration of the Assembly session is yet to be finalized, with the Business Advisory Committee to decide the number of sittings and schedule.
Speaker Appavu highlighted efforts to enhance transparency and public access to Assembly debates. The State government, under Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, aims to expand real-time coverage of legislative proceedings, including live telecasts of discussions on the demand for grants. Tamil Nadu is working towards more comprehensive coverage compared to other States, with ongoing digitization of past Assembly records to enable global access.
Appavu refuted allegations of deliberate interruptions during live telecasts of Opposition speeches, emphasizing fair time allocations for each member without disruptions. The upcoming session, with the interim Budget unveiling the government’s immediate fiscal roadmap, is expected to significantly influence the state’s political and economic narrative ahead of the elections.
