Assembly session begins today

The three-day special session of both Houses of Karnataka Legislatures commencing here on Wednesday is likely to be stormy with the Congress-led opposition set to attack the BJP government on a host of issues, including drought management. The session would debate at length on issues concerning rural development and problems faced by rural people. Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had held a meeting of opposition Congress and JD(S) leaders recently to seek their cooperation during the session, but it turned out to be a truncated affair following the absence of leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah.

The opposition had insisted that the government allow them to raise the issue of purchase of land by Karnataka Housing Board (KHB), a controversy that saw axing of the then housing minister S N Krishnaiah Setty, and a cheating case involving social welfare minister D Sudhakar in which CBI had chargesheeted him.

Sudhakar, despite a directive by Yeddyurappa, is yet to resign from the ministry and the week-long deadline he had sought expired yesterday.

Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa, who has returned from his week-long China trip today claimed that his tour was a “success” and many companies have evinced interest to invest in the state. “As far as development issue is concerned, my trip to China is a success. I have met heads of 70 companies there and many have evinced interest to invest in Karnataka”, he told reporters here.

The trip had come under fire from Congress and JD(S) which had flayed Yeddyurappa for embarking on it when the state is facing drought in several parts.