SHIMLA | 17 Feb – Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was accorded a formal Guard of Honour by the state police on Tuesday as he arrived at the Vidhan Sabha for the second day of the 14th Legislative Assembly’s eleventh session.
The Chief Minister, arriving amid a heightened security blanket for the budget session, expressed his gratitude to the police officers and personnel for the ceremonial welcome. The gesture comes at a time of significant political activity in the hill state, as the government navigates a three-day opening leg of the session primarily focused on fiscal entitlements and the state’s revenue deficit.
The 11th session, which began on Monday, has been marked by early friction between the ruling Congress and the opposition over the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) by the Centre. Chief Minister Sukhu has maintained that the RDG is a “right” of the state rather than a matter of “charity,” urging for a unified front to safeguard Himachal’s financial interests.
Legislative business on Tuesday included the scheduled Question Hour, where members raised issues ranging from infrastructure development to law and order. The assembly is operating under a phased format similar to Parliament, with the first leg concluding on February 18.
Further discussions on supplementary demands for grants and the upcoming budget for the 2026-27 financial year are expected to dominate the proceedings as the government prepares to present its fiscal roadmap later this month.
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