Karnataka budget session from Thursday

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, would present the budget for 2011-12 in the Assembly on the first day of the session which would have a total of 15 working days and conculde on March 17.

Asked by reporters if he was hopeful of smooth conduct of the House given the fact the last session was cut short over repeated disruptions, Speaker K G Bopaiah today said: "I am optimistic".

He would convene a meeting of opposition party leaders, possibly on the morning of February 25 to ensure smooth conduct of the House, enlarging the scope of business advisory committee interactions.

In the last session, which ended abruptly on Jan 13, the opposition insisted on discussing alleged scams involving the BJP Government through an adjournment motion, while the ruling side and the Speaker maintained they can do so under a different rule or during the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint session of the legislature.

As both the government and the opposition stuck to their position, leading to a deadlock, the Speaker had adjourned the House sine die with seven more days left in the session.

Bopaiah also said three new bills would be introduced during the budget session.