Dhami and Arya Meet as High-Stakes Gairsain Assembly Session Kicks Off
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and LoP Yashpal Arya meet as Uttarakhand's final 2026 assembly session begins with a ₹7400 crore budget.
In a significant gesture of political courtesy, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with the Leader of Opposition, Yashpal Arya, on October 27, 2026. The meeting took place at the Bhararisain Assembly building in Gairsain, with both leaders discussing the need for the smooth conduct of the upcoming two-day assembly session.
A Final Legislative Push for the Dhami Government
This particular gathering marks the third meeting of the Fifth Assembly in 2026 and serves as the final session for the current government led by CM Dhami. The proceedings officially commenced at 11:00 AM, beginning with a patriotic rendition of 'Vande Mataram'.
The session opened on a solemn note, as members paid tributes to the memory of former Chief Minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri and former Minister Hira Singh Bisht.
Budget and Bills: The Government's Agenda
The Dhami administration has a packed legislative calendar for the short duration of the session. Key highlights include:
- Supplementary Budget: The presentation of a ₹7,400 crore supplementary budget designed to accelerate public welfare initiatives and critical development projects.
- Legislative Action: The introduction of approximately 10 new bills.
- Reporting: The tabling of various departmental reports.
Opposition Ready for a Face-Off
Despite the courtesy meeting, the atmosphere remains charged. The Congress-led opposition, under the leadership of Yashpal Arya, is prepared to put the government on the defensive. The opposition has submitted a staggering 445 questions that ministers are expected to answer.
The primary battlegrounds for the opposition include:
- The progress and handling of the Ankita Bhandari murder case.
- The escalating rates of inflation affecting the common man.
- Rising unemployment figures within the state.
- The general state of law and order in Uttarakhand.
Given the anticipated friction, the state government has already instructed its cabinet members to be fully prepared for rigorous questioning.
Security Tightened Amid Criticism
To ensure the session proceeds without disruption, the administration has deployed approximately 1,500 security personnel in and around Gairsain.
However, the brevity of the session has drawn fire from some quarters. BSP MLA Mohammad Shahzad has criticized the two-day timeframe, alleging that the government is intentionally keeping the session short to avoid substantive debates on matters of public interest.