Budget Session Of Odisha Assembly Set To Be Stormy

BHUBANESWAR: The budget session of the Odisha assembly beginning on March 15 is set to be stormy as the opposition Congress and the BJP are armed with some issues including alleged involvement of some BJD leaders with Dhalasamant brothers to corner the state government on the floor of the house.

The opposition parties have decided to raise issues like irregularities in distribution of ration cards and the alleged nexus of ruling BJD leaders with criminals.

On the other hand, the government has decided to highlight its achievements while trying to use its most tried and tested ‘central neglect’ issue to counter every salvo of the opposition.

“We will raise issues affecting the common people. While law and order have deteriorated, several BJD leaders have links with criminals. Besides, the potato crisis and farmer issues will be raised in the budget session,” said BJP president and legislative party leader Basant Panda.

The leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra of the Congress said irregularities in distribution of ration cards under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), and law and order problems would be raised.

Even though the government claimed that it was ready to discuss any issue raised by the opposition, the ruling BJD all set to suppress all the demands with its brute majority in the house. The party has 117 members out of 147 seats in the house.

“We are ready to discuss the issues to be raised by the opposition parties,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh. He said the party would hold the legislature party meeting on Monday to chalk out the strategy for the assembly.

Government chief whip Ananta Das said Odisha’s share in the devolution of funds was reduced by the 14th Finance Commission even though it increased the overall share of states from 32 percent to 42 percent.

The BJD would also come up with issues like a failure of the central government to curb price rise, the demand for special category status for Odisha and no central assistance for celebrating the birth centenary year of late former chief minister Biju Patnaik and Polavaram.