Odisha Assembly Winter Session From Tomorrow Set To Be Stormy; Opposition Gearing Up To Corner Govt

Bhubaneswar: The winter session of the Odisha Assembly beginning on Tuesday is set to be stormy with opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress getting ready to corner the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government on a host of burning issues.

In an effort to ensure smooth functioning of the House, Speaker Pramila Mallik has convened an all-party meeting on Monday. She is likely to urge the opposition legislators to cooperate in running the proceedings smoothly and ensure proper discussion on important issues.

The meeting assumes significance as most of the last two sessions of the Assembly were washed out due to uproar by opposition members over on several issues.

With Lok Sabha and Assembly elections due next year, opposition BJP and Congress are preparing to corner the government on a range of issues.

Apart from law and order and corruption, the opposition is likely to raise the issue of tribal land transfer to non-tribals during the session. Though the cabinet had approved amendment of Regulation 2 of 1956 to allow transfer of tribal land to non-tribals, it was put on hold due to opposition backlash.

According to opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi, BJP will focus on the state government’s failure in the agriculture sector which has led to alleged suicide by farmers.

Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra said regional imbalance in the state and its backwardness in health and education will be the focus of his party. Growing unemployment, migration and government neglect of farm sector will be the other issues.

The opposition parties as well as the ruling BJD are set to work out their respective strategies for the session at their legislature party meetings.

Meanwhile, BJD MLA Saluga Pradhan on Monday filed nomination for the post of Deputy Speaker. The post is lying vacant following the resignation of Rajanikant Singh.