BANGALORE: With Opposition JD(S) getting close to the ruling BJP, and the Congress being divided in the House, the 10-day session of the Karnataka Legislature, which will begin on Monday, will be a cakewalk for Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda. The session has been convened by the Chief Minister in the backdrop of criticism that the number of days for legislative business is dwindling with every passing year.
The session, which would soon be followed by the Budget Session, is likely to improve the scorecard on the number of days the state Legislature would be held. Only 29 days of the session was held in 2011. The principal Opposition Congress, which criticised the BJP government for its failure in tackling the severe drought-like conditions, is likely to pin down the government by raising the issue.
Opposition leader Siddaramaiah has convened a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on Tuesday where a strategy to be adopted in the floor of the House would be worked out. Referring to hammering out any floor coordination with the JD(S) during the session, CLP secretary C S Nadagouda said: “We welcome any kind of co-operation from the JD(S) in raising the issue of total failure of the state government.” The brewing differences within the ruling BJP following an open statement by former CM B S Yeddyurappa that he would come back to state politics, is likely to cast a shadow on the session.
The Opposition Congress is also likely to raise the issue of the increasing influence of the RSS in the functioning of the state government and bring up reported dissident activities within its ranks, and its failure to take any action on the Lokayukta report on illegal mining. The continued impasse over the appointment of the Lokayukta is also likely to come up. The government is likely to reintroduce the Karnataka Hindu Religious institutions and Charitable Endowments (second amendment) Bill, 2011, which was defeated in the last session by one vote.