Opp formulates strategy to corner ruling party in Assembly

Bhubaneswar: The two major Opposition parties on Sunday charted out their game plan to corner the ruling BJD during the ensuing Budget session of the Assembly, scheduled to begin from March 15.

During a joint meeting of the BJP legislature party and office bearers, the leaders prepared a long list of issues on which they will attack on the State government in the Assembly.

Basant Panda, State BJP President, said, “Failure of the potato mission and price rise of the tuber will be raised in the House. Besides, irregularities in ration card distribution and law and order situation will also be discussed.”

The party is also ready to counter the State government’s allegation of Central negligence.

On its part, the Congress will target the ruling party on the alleged connection between BJD leaders and the notorious Dhalasamant brothers. Apart from this, farmers’ issues, water scarcity and law and order in the State will be raised in the House.

Talking to media persons, Narasingha Mishra, Leader of Opposition, said “Arrest of former MLA Ramesh Jena will be discussed in the Assembly. When allegations were levelled against their (BJD) people, they captured leaders of Opposition parties to divert public attention.”

The legislature party of Congress is meeting tomorrow to finalise the issues on which they will attack the BJD during the forthcoming budget session. Notably, the executive committee of the party met on Sunday to discuss party affairs as well as issues of the State.

On the other hand, the ruling BJD has braced up to counter the Opposition onslaught.

Bikram Keshari Arukh, Parliamentary Affairs minister said, “The job of the Opposition is to present issues of the people before the House. We hope issues pertaining to the interests of Odisha people will be presented and the ruling party will welcome such a move.”

In the Assembly, the ruling party will raise the issue of the cut in Central budget allocation to the State in 2016-17 and the denial of any special fund allocation for Biju Babu’s centenary celebration. Besides, the party will talk about issues of Polavaram and Special Category Status.