Budget session likely to be stormy

Rocked by internal bickering’s over leadership issue, the BJP government in Karnataka will face a stormy budget session from tomorrow with the opposition all set to put it on the mat over a host of issues, including “administrative failure.”

The session, which will last till March 30, is taking place against the backd-rop of state BJP strongman B S Yeddyurappa leading a revolt against Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, demanding his reinstatement and setting a 48-hour deadline. The Congress and JDS are likely to take adv-antage of the political crisis in the BJP and may consi-der moving a no-confidence motion against the Gowda ministry, if the saffron party fails to resolve the leadership tangle.

The session is expected to be stormy over government’s “failure” to solve various problems, including drought in more than 100 taluks and naxal menace in Dakshina Kannada. Eshwarappa’s reported remarks on the possibility of mid-term state polls would also find an echo in the Assembly, though he made it clear that he talked about mid-term Lok Sabha elections.

The result of Udupi-Chikmaglur Lok Sabha by election would be announced on March 21, the day Gowda is to present his maiden budget. Gowda had represented this constituency before becoming Chief Minister.

Other issues such as illegal mining case and porn-film clip watching episode in the assembly, on which three BJP ministers — Laxman Savadi, C C Patil and Krishna Palemar — had to resign, are also expected to dominate the proceedings.

Despite the political crisis within the party and chances of the Opposition giving a torrid time in the coming budget session, ruling BJP will try and get the budget passed.