The winter session of the Assembly beginning Tuesday is all set for a stormy start with the Opposition Congress deciding to press for the resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the ‘all-round failure’ of the State Government and the number of scams which have come to the fore.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal is also prepared to counter it by raising a host of issues, including price rise.
“Rise in the prices of essential commodities, LPG price hike and cap on the number of subsidised cylinders for consumers, Central neglect and scams in the UPA will be the major issues to be raised by the BJD in the House,” Naveen told mediapersons after the Legislature Party meeting of the BJD.
However, the Congress seems to be in an aggressive mode after its successful padayatras and rallies. Stating that the BJD’s a Government of scams, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh said the Chief Minister should resign as he had sacked more than a dozen ministers on corruption issues. As Naveen is behind all the scams, he should now quit, Singh said.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik and 14 MLAs attended the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) to decide on the strategy for the winter session.
The joint venture between the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and the Delhi-based Sainik Mining and Allied Services Limited (SMASL), mysterious death of Ayush lady doctor Madhabilata Pradhan and phone tapping as admitted by the State Government will be the main issues for the Opposition.
Singh said the CLP also decided to raise the issues of farmers suicide and neglect of farm sector by the State Government. Though November is going to end soon, nowhere procurement centres (mandis) have been opened for procurement of paddy, he said.
Criticising the State Government for late convening of the winter session, Singh said the House should have been convened from November 15 instead of November 27. The Chief Minister is again trying to avoid the House, he said. The CLP took no decision on the impeachment motion against the Speaker, which it had announced to bring in this session. “We will let you know at the right time,” he said.
Naveen, however, said the State Government is ready for discussion on any issue to be raised by the Opposition. He also sought the cooperation of all members for smooth running of the House.