Gandhinagar, March 18 (IANS): The budget session of the Gujarat Assembly is likely to be curtailed by a week due to coronavirus outbreak. The session, scheduled to conclude on March 31, may end on or before March 26.

"Some ongoing procedures have been told to be hurried up by the government to wrap up the session before the scheduled date," said a source in the Secretariat.

The Rajya Sabha elections for four seats in Gujarat is scheduled for March 26.

Though no coronavirus case has been diagnosed in the state, the government is taking all precautionary measures and is fully prepared for any untoward situation. Of the over hundred samples, none tested positive.

Following the Centre's guidelines, the state has closed all educational institutions, cinemas and swimming pools for a fortnight. Even the 'Statue of Unity' and the Assembly have been shut for visitors.

Raising the coronavirus scare, the Congress on Monday staged a walkout, demanding postponement of the budget session. But Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel brushed aside the demand saying there had been not a single case in the state.

They also alleged the Congress demand had nothing to do with the public concern but the political crisis it was facing.

Several states, like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Maharashtra, have curtailed their budget sessions.

After walkout on Monday, the Congress members remained absent on Tuesday and Wednesday.