Bangalore: The stage is set for another turbulent session of the State legislature beginning on Thursday. Coinciding with the session is the first anniversary of the coalition Government headed by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on February 3.

The three previous sessions witnessed acrimonious scenes with the Opposition — particularly the Congress — attempting to grill the Government on various issues.

The communal riots in Bangalore are expected to figure prominently in the 15-day session. Should the Opposition seek to embarrass the Government on this issue, the latter is expected to turn the tables on the Congress and blame the party for the riots since a section of its leaders were instrumental in organising a rally that triggered the violence.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs M.P. Prakash told The Hindu that the Government was equipped to respond to all the accusations that the Congress might lay at its door.

The Congress has demanded a judicial inquiry into the violence, but the Chief Minister has rejected it. The Congress is expected to blame the Bharatiya Janata Party for the violence since it is part of the Virat Hindu Samajothsava, an event that sparked the counter-violence on Sunday.

Another subject expected to take centre stage at the session is the Chief Minister's repeated announcement on the waiver of all farm loans obtained from cooperative institutions. The Government is expected to spell out the details of the loan waiver scheme in the budget.

Sources in the Congress said that the party was keen on moving a motion of no-confidence against Speaker Krishna as he had turned down its request to include afresh some of the Congress legislators in the joint legislature committee on encroachment of government lands in Bangalore, headed by Janata Dal (Secular) legislator A.T. Ramaswamy. Incidentally, Congress MLA and former Minister R. Roshan Baig has refused to heed the party's request to resign from the legislature committee.

Congress general secretary Prakash Rathod, MLC, said the party which was in a majority in the Legislative Council would press for the election of Chairman. The post has been vacant for nearly eight months now. Officiating chairman (Deputy Chairman) Sachidananda Khot is also not well following a motor accident. Under the rules, any vacancy that arises during the course of a session should be filled up in the following session.

Nearly 12 Bills would be tabled during the session.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu