Budget Session Of Odisha Assembly Likely To Be Stormy

Bhubaneswar: With the month-long budget session of the Odisha Assembly beginning from Tuesday, the Opposition Congress and BJP have braced up to corner the ruling BJD government in the House on a plethora of issues.

While the Congress has already discussed its strategies at its legislature party meeting, the BJP and the BJD will have their legislature party meetings at the State Assembly here in the afternoon on Monday.

“We have a host of issues like law and order, gang rape of women, farmers’ suicide, corruption, hike in minimum support price of paddy, drinking water problems etc which we will raise in the House,” Opposition chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati told media persons here.

BJP State president Basant Panda said, his party would raise acute drinking water crisis, farmers’ issues, law and order, suicide of Kunduli minor rape victim and report of the Commission of Inquiry on Gumudumaha firing in Kandhamal district.

On the other hand, the BJD has also decided to rake up issues like Mahanadi, Polavaram, drastic cut in Central assistance, Special Category State status and hike in MSP of paddy.

“We are ready to answer each and every issue to be raised by the Opposition,” BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra said.

The first phase budget session of the State Assembly will be held from March 20 to 31 while the second phase of the session would be held from April 11 to May 5.

The annual state budget for the year 2018-19 will be presented in the House on March 23.