BENGALURU: The ten-day winter session of the State Legislature which will begin at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on November 21 is likely to see the Opposition uniting on crucial issues in an attempt to embarrass the Congress government.
The BJP and JD(S) may launch a combined attack on Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait who is facing allegations of watching porn during a Tipu Jayanti function, They may unite to lambast the government for its poor response to the unprecedented drought in over 130 taluks across the state.
Sources said the opposition parties are likely to stall proceedings in the House demanding Mr Sait's resignation. “Three BJP ministers had resigned after they faced charges of watching porn videos in the Assembly when the saffron party was in power. A similar yardstick must be applied to Mr Sait too”, JD(S) Deputy Leader in the Legislative Assembly Y.S.V. Datta told DC.
The JD(S) is also planning to raise issues like the drought, non-release of funds to tackle drought, non-remunerative prices for crops grown by farmers and acute shortage of drinking water and fodder in villages. The whirlwind visit of Mr Siddaramaiah in drought-hit districts had not brought succor to villagers, asserts the JD(S) which feels it was an eyewash keeping in mind the Belagavi session. Instead of rushing to the aid of the rural populace, ruling party legislators are fighting for chairmen posts in various boards and corporations. “Our party will demand at least one or two days exclusively to discuss drought and another two to three days to discuss the Mahadayi river issue,” Mr Datta added.
A senior BJP leader said that besides the Sait issue, they may take up Tipu Jayanti celebrations, the government's failure to handle drought and Bengaluru related issues like the strong opposition to the steel bridge. Meanwhile, sources said Mr Siddaramaiah has told all his ministers to defend Mr Sait during the Belagavi session. The CM is said to be waiting for instructions from the party high command on the action to be taken in this regard.
