<p class="bodytext">On the eve of the start of the monsoon session, BJP and JD(S) leaders met on Sunday to discuss how best to put the ruling Congress in the dock over its failure on multiple issues, ranging from fertiliser shortage, misrule to lopsided regional development, corruption, and the stampede at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The session, starting on Monday, will conclude on August 22.</p>.<p class="bodytext">JD(S) Youth Wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, interacting with journalists after the meeting, accused the Congress of presiding over a corrupt regime for the past two years. Affirming that the BJP and JD(S) would act in concert, Nikhil said, “Since the Parliament is also in session, my father Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy was unable to attend the meeting with BJP.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Accusing the Congress of laying the blame for all its failures at the Centre’s feet, JD(S) Floor Leader in the Assembly Suresh Babu said, “Prices are rising and there is no parity in distribution of funds to MLAs. Also, there are not enough funds across departments for development projects.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Karnataka BJP chief B Y Vijayendra, meanwhile, took exception to the session being scheduled for only eight to nine days. “The session should have been held for 15 to 20 days,” said Vijayendra. </p>.Statewide stir by BJP Kisan Morcha over urea shortage from today, says Vijayendra.<p class="bodytext">The opposition will also seek answers on the probe into alleged ‘mass burials’ in Dharmasthala, besides questioning the Congress on Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of ‘vote theft’ in Bengaluru.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka, meanwhile, said that ministers’ failure to visit flood-affected areas, deteriorating law and order, were among the key issues the opposition was looking to discuss in the House.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Given that the Justice H N Nagmohan Das Commission has submitted its report on the SC survey, the contentious issue of internal reservation is likely to be debated at length in the session.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More importantly, the session will be held against the backdrop of simmering tensions both in the ruling party – the tussle between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar – and in the BJP.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As many as 17 pieces of legislation, including the Greater Bengaluru (Amendment) Bill, the Karnataka Land Reforms and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Bill, the Karnataka Ground Water (Regulation for Protection of Sources of Drinking Water) Bill, are likely to be tabled in the upcoming session. Meanwhile, legislations such as Misinformation Regulation Bill, Karnataka Crowd Control Bill may also be tabled, although most of them are awaiting Cabinet clearance.</p>
<p class="bodytext">On the eve of the start of the monsoon session, BJP and JD(S) leaders met on Sunday to discuss how best to put the ruling Congress in the dock over its failure on multiple issues, ranging from fertiliser shortage, misrule to lopsided regional development, corruption, and the stampede at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The session, starting on Monday, will conclude on August 22.</p>.<p class="bodytext">JD(S) Youth Wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, interacting with journalists after the meeting, accused the Congress of presiding over a corrupt regime for the past two years. Affirming that the BJP and JD(S) would act in concert, Nikhil said, “Since the Parliament is also in session, my father Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy was unable to attend the meeting with BJP.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Accusing the Congress of laying the blame for all its failures at the Centre’s feet, JD(S) Floor Leader in the Assembly Suresh Babu said, “Prices are rising and there is no parity in distribution of funds to MLAs. Also, there are not enough funds across departments for development projects.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Karnataka BJP chief B Y Vijayendra, meanwhile, took exception to the session being scheduled for only eight to nine days. “The session should have been held for 15 to 20 days,” said Vijayendra. </p>.Statewide stir by BJP Kisan Morcha over urea shortage from today, says Vijayendra.<p class="bodytext">The opposition will also seek answers on the probe into alleged ‘mass burials’ in Dharmasthala, besides questioning the Congress on Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of ‘vote theft’ in Bengaluru.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka, meanwhile, said that ministers’ failure to visit flood-affected areas, deteriorating law and order, were among the key issues the opposition was looking to discuss in the House.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Given that the Justice H N Nagmohan Das Commission has submitted its report on the SC survey, the contentious issue of internal reservation is likely to be debated at length in the session.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More importantly, the session will be held against the backdrop of simmering tensions both in the ruling party – the tussle between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar – and in the BJP.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As many as 17 pieces of legislation, including the Greater Bengaluru (Amendment) Bill, the Karnataka Land Reforms and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Bill, the Karnataka Ground Water (Regulation for Protection of Sources of Drinking Water) Bill, are likely to be tabled in the upcoming session. Meanwhile, legislations such as Misinformation Regulation Bill, Karnataka Crowd Control Bill may also be tabled, although most of them are awaiting Cabinet clearance.</p>
