Overview
- The session opens Tuesday with Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar’s address and is scheduled to run 32 days through March 26.
- Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal will present the 2026–27 budget on January 29, with a general debate set for February 2–4 before committee scrutiny.
- The UDF enters with momentum from December local polls and plans sustained protests over fiscal stress, pension arrears, and governance, while the LDF will showcase welfare delivery, infrastructure, and alleged central funding curbs.
- Flashpoints include the Sabarimala gold loss case, with arrests involving former TDB chief A. Padmakumar, as well as the arrest of expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil.
- CPI(M)’s central committee has reaffirmed Pinarayi Vijayan to lead the campaign, with questions persisting over how extensively he can canvass given age and health concerns.