With issues galore,Assembly session could be stormy

The Congress is in a fix on the border issue as it is in power at the Centre,which has not endorsed the state claim on the Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka. Chavan has said his government would remain firm on its demand,but he will have to face Opposition heat on the issue. Ally NCP may tactfully join the Opposition by blaming the Congress.

The Shiv Sena,which was looking for a rallying point,could utilise the border issue to rake up sentiments. Its only hurdle will be the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS),which has blamed not only the Congress-NCP alliance but also the Sena-BJP for not sorting out the issue when the NDA was in power. The BJP will be in a piquant situation ¿ though its state leaders support the state claim,they are not in a position to criticise the Karnataka Government,where the BJP is in power.

The government is also likely to face the heat on Laine’s book and the mess in the education department. The Opposition alleges that the government had failed in presenting its side in the courts on various issues like the ‘best-5’ formula and convincing the apex court in the Laine book case.

Besides,the spiralling prices,on which the Opposition parties had organised a bandh as part of the countrywide strike,are also likely to be raised in the Assembly.

Chavan will have to tackle the NCP ministers,too,to present a collective front. The NCP ministers are already sore with him and some Congress ministers,whom they feel had “belittled” them.

The government is making efforts to ensure that the number of contentious issues is reduced. For instance,Minister for Social Justice Shivajirao Moghe has announced that the Maharashtra Eradication of Black Magic and Evil and Aghori Practices Bill will not be introduced in the Assembly. The Bill was moved in the Assembly in 2005 and passed,but it was stalled in the council by the Opposition.