Parliament break likely? Government plans pause amid election buzz: Report

New Delhi: The Centre may seek a temporary break in the ongoing Parliament session to allow Members of Parliament to campaign in the upcoming Assembly elections 2026, according to official sources.

The current sitting, the seventh session of the 18th Lok Sabha, began its second phase on March 9 and was originally scheduled to conclude on April 2, with key focus on financial business and passage of the Finance Bill 2026.

However, government sources indicated that the schedule could be revised. “After a brief recess, the Parliament may be called again after the elections to finish the pending business,” a senior official said.

The proposed break follows requests from MPs across party lines, including Opposition leaders, who want to prioritise campaigning in five States and Union Territories going to polls next month.

Sources added that once the Assembly election results are declared on May 4, Parliament could be reconvened for a short session to wrap up unfinished work.

The Budget Session of Parliament 2026 began on January 28 and continued till February 13 in its first phase. During this period, discussions were held on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address and the Union Budget for 2026–27.

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The session has also witnessed political tensions. During the earlier phase, Opposition MPs submitted a no-confidence motion against Om Birla, accusing him of partisan functioning. The motion, backed by 118 MPs from parties including the Indian National Congress, Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Left parties, was defeated by voice vote on March 11 after a two-day debate.

Meanwhile, the ongoing session has also focused on global developments, particularly the West Asia crisis. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a “united voice of peace and dialogue” from India’s Parliament.

Highlighting the impact of the West Asia conflict on India, Modi said the prolonged crisis has disrupted trade routes and affected the supply of key commodities such as petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers.

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He also flagged concerns over the safety of nearly one crore Indians living in Gulf countries, as well as Indian crew members stranded near the Strait of Hormuz.

The government’s potential move to pause the session underscores the balancing act between legislative priorities and electoral commitments, as India heads into a crucial round of Assembly elections.

IANS