The Winter Session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly commenced on December 18, 2025, setting the stage for a politically charged confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress. The session, scheduled for three sittings until December 22, will see the Congress formally move a no-confidence motion against the Nayab Singh Saini-led government.
Political Showdown in the Assembly
The session's tone was set even before it began, with both major parties drawing confidence from contrasting national political developments. The BJP is buoyed by its performance in the recent Bihar elections, while the Congress aims to leverage the political discourse surrounding the National Herald case.
The Congress Legislative Party, led by former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, finalized its strategy in a meeting also attended by State Congress president Rao Narendra Singh. The party's primary weapon is the no-confidence motion, intended to highlight alleged "illegal" methods used by the BJP to gain power in the October 2024 Assembly elections. Hooda has accused the ruling party of vote manipulation and offering illegal inducements, charges the BJP has vehemently denied.
While the Congress lacks the numbers to topple the government, the motion is a strategic move to force a debate on electoral integrity and governance failures. Beyond the no-confidence motion, the opposition plans to raise a slew of issues including unemployment, law and order, paddy procurement, drug abuse, and shortcomings in health and education through various parliamentary instruments.
In response, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. The BJP, confident in its majority, plans to counterattack by highlighting its developmental record and governance initiatives.
Key Legislative Agenda: Six Bills to be Tabled
Amid the political drama, the government has a substantial legislative agenda. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC), chaired by Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, has greenlit the tabling of six important bills during the short session.
The Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 seeks to ease business operations. Key provisions include mandatory online self-declaration for units with under 20 employees, a fully online portal for registrations, and changes to work hours. The daily work limit increases from nine to ten hours (weekly cap remains 48), the continuous work stretch before a break extends from five to six hours, and the quarterly overtime limit jumps significantly from 50 to 156 hours. It also mandates appointment letters and ID cards for all employees.
The Haryana Housing Board (Amendment) Bill, 2025 will formalize the merger of the Haryana Housing Board with the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HSVP), aiming to streamline urban housing development.
The Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance adjusts Gram Sabha quorum rules. For meetings to approve government scheme beneficiaries, a 40% quorum is required. If unmet, the Sarpanch must wait an hour before adjourning to the next day.
The Haryana Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Ordinance marks a significant shift towards decriminalization. It proposes replacing criminal penalties with fines for 164 provisions across 42 state laws. For instance, non-compliance with municipal orders could attract a fine between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000 instead of criminal prosecution.
The Haryana Abadi Deh (Consolidation, Registration, and Settlement of Ownership Rights) Ordinance is a landmark move expected to grant ownership rights to approximately 31 lakh residents in Abadi Deh areas, including 25 lakh in rural and 6 lakh in urban zones.
Session Conduct and Broader Issues
The proceedings are anticipated to be heated, with recent law and order concerns in the state likely to fuel the debate. The opposition is expected to grill the government over administrative responses to recent protests and disruptions.
Other pressing issues like the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal dispute, environmental concerns, waterlogging compensation, and MNREGA implementation are also on the Congress's list for short-duration discussions and calling attention notices.
The winter session, though brief, is poised to be a critical test for both the government's resilience and the opposition's ability to set the political narrative in Haryana.
