Uttarakhand Assembly Session 2026 : Political activity has intensified in Uttarakhand ahead of the Assembly session scheduled to begin on October 27, 2026, at Bhararisain in Gairsain. On Saturday, Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri chaired meetings of the Business Advisory Committee and the all-party group at her official residence in Yamuna Colony.
No Congress representative attended either meeting, prompting responses from the Speaker and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal. Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Mohammad Shahzad questioned the duration of the proposed two-day session, arguing that it may leave insufficient time to discuss important public issues.
Ritu Khanduri Responds to Congress’s Absence
Following the meetings, Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri said that holding all-party and Business Advisory Committee meetings before a session is an established parliamentary practice.
She explained that the Assembly Secretariat informs the concerned members through written communication and telephone calls. If a member does not attend despite receiving information, the decision rests with that individual, she said.
The Speaker added that no public representative can be compelled to attend a meeting. She appealed to all political parties to uphold parliamentary traditions and maintain the dignity of the House.
Khanduri emphasised that the Assembly is not merely a platform for political statements. It is an important forum where elected representatives can raise public concerns and seek answers from the government.
She also urged legislators to cooperate in ensuring that the Gairsain session proceeds peacefully and in a dignified manner, noting that the conduct of elected representatives attracts attention beyond the state.
Interim Budget and Legislative Business Expected During Two-Day Session
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal said the Business Advisory Committee discussed the proposed proceedings for the session beginning October 27.
According to the minister, the first day will begin with tributes to deceased leaders, followed by the presentation of an interim budget by the Chief Minister. Essential legislative business is also expected to be taken up.
On the second day, the planned proceedings include Question Hour, passage of the budget and other legislative work.
The short schedule has become a point of discussion, with the BSP MLA questioning whether two days will provide adequate time for legislators to raise constituency-level concerns and seek detailed responses from the government.
Subodh Uniyal Explains Attempts to Contact Congress Leaders
Addressing the absence of Congress representatives, Subodh Uniyal said he had spoken by telephone with senior Congress leader Pritam Singh.
According to Uniyal, Singh informed him that he was occupied in the Tyuni area because of previously scheduled political programmes. The minister also said that an attempt was made to contact Congress leader Yashpal Arya, but the conversation could not be established.
Uniyal maintained that the government wants the Assembly to function with opposition participation and appealed to all parties to cooperate in the proceedings.
BSP MLA Mohammad Shahzad Questions the Two-Day Session
BSP MLA Mohammad Shahzad raised concerns about the limited duration of the Assembly session. He argued that a two-day sitting could make it difficult for legislators to discuss serious public issues in sufficient detail.
According to Shahzad, a significant portion of the first day may be devoted to paying tributes to deceased leaders. This would leave the second day as the main opportunity for legislators to raise questions and discuss issues affecting their constituencies.
He pointed out that the Uttarakhand Assembly has 70 elected members. If a large number of MLAs seek to raise local problems, he said, it may be difficult to discuss every issue comprehensively within a single day.
Shahzad cited inflation, unemployment, migration, disaster-related concerns and basic public services as issues requiring discussion and government responses.
The BSP MLA alleged that holding a short session amounted to a formality and accused the government of avoiding detailed discussion of public concerns. These remarks represent his criticism of the proposed schedule.
Gairsain Assembly Session 2026: Key Issues to Watch
The October 27 session at Bhararisain in Gairsain is expected to focus on the interim budget and legislative business. The debate over the session’s duration has also brought attention to the time available for questions, constituency concerns and opposition participation.
The Speaker has appealed to all legislators to maintain parliamentary decorum, while the Parliamentary Affairs Minister has said that the government wants opposition parties to participate in the proceedings.
Whether the available time will be sufficient for detailed discussion of public issues remains a central point of debate ahead of the session.