Opposition set to corner govt as session begins today

Garbage crisis, Ravindranath episode to come in handy for BJP

The State government is likely to come under attack from opposition parties in the Legislature session scheduled to commence on Monday, on various issues including garbage disposal in Bangalore, the episode of IPS officer P Ravindranath allegedly taking objectionable photographs of girls and the move to nominate politicians to the Council.

It is also the first session after the recent Lok Sabha elections wherein the ruling Congress faced defeat and managed to win just nine seats from the State.

The BJP, which won 17 seats, is on a high to corner the government. The session is scheduled to have 27 working days, the longest sitting by the State legislature in the recent past.

The Siddaramaiah government has been criticised for its inaction on the issue of garbage disposal.

Though the government had promised to solve the problem in six months, nothing has been done. As a result, people of Mandur village, where the BBMP has been unscientifically dumping garbage, took up cudgels. An upset chief minister had given a dressing-down to the BBMP officials for doing nothing to solve the problem.

Immense embarrassment

The issue of Ravindranath and his allegations against Bangalore City Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar caused immense embarrassment to the government. Opposition parties had blamed the government for the issue and alleged that it had dented the morale of the police force.

BJP, the principal opposition party, has been protesting the move to nominate Congress leaders to the Upper House.

These issues are likely to figure prominently during the session. Siddaramaiah, who is finding it difficult to keep his own house in order owing to infighting in the Congress, will have a tough task facing the opposition.

Several Congress leaders are lobbying to get ministerial berths. KPCC chief G Parameshwara, who recently became an MLC, is one of the aspirants.

Besides, many MLAs are not happy with the style of functioning of some ministers. Siddaramaiah had recently held a day-long Congress Legislature Party meeting  in order to take the party legislators into confidence.

As far as business is concerned, the government would seek the legislature approval for the full-year budget.

Siddaramaiah, who also holds the Finance portfolio, had presented a vote on account budget in February this year.

The government has decided to re-introduce the practice of allowing separate discussion on every demand for grants under the budget.