Tensions simmered in Lucknow’s legislative hub as Samajwadi Party activists kicked off the budget session prelude with a high-decibel demonstration. Gathering at the iconic statue of Chaudhary Charan Singh, SP MLAs and MLCs unleashed a barrage of slogans targeting the BJP government, signaling an aggressive opposition strategy from day one.
Adding flair to the protest, SP MLC Ashutosh Sinha made a symbolic arrival on a bicycle. He didn’t mince words, labeling the Varanasi temple demolitions as a serious scandal and promising to thrust it into the session’s spotlight. Party heavyweight Aradhana Mishra Mona stood shoulder-to-shoulder with colleagues, fueling the anti-government fervor.
Analysts predict a stormy session where the opposition will grill the administration on critical fronts: the contentious voter list overhaul, rampant codeine trafficking, youth joblessness, faltering women’s protection measures, and questionable foreign affairs handling. SP speeches are likely to erupt into protests, keeping the government on its toes.
Post-Governor’s address, the houses will tackle essential bills. Tuesday’s business opens with obituaries for departed legislators, halting until Wednesday’s budget presentation for 2026-27. Security has been ramped up across the Vidhan Bhawan complex to manage potential unrest.
Echoing calls for order, Speaker Satish Mahana, in an all-party huddle on Sunday, appealed for unity. ‘Parliamentary democracy thrives on conversation and constructive debate, not chaos,’ he asserted, positioning the assembly as a space for ideas over uproar.