It's likely to be a fragmented government fighting off a unified Opposition over a range of issues in the monsoon session of the state legislature that kicks off today
It's likely to be a fragmented government fighting off a unified Opposition over a range of issues in the monsoon session of the state legislature that kicks off today
The political forecast for the monsoon session of the state legislature could easily be said to be cloudy, with a chance of hailstorms, what with the Opposition raring to go all out in hauling the government over a spectrum of issues.
Seemingly strong, the Opposition is busy piling its quiver of caustic questions on land scams, prevailing law and order situation, and security of life and wealth of the public, to be aimed at the Democratic Front government, while the latter has shown cracks of divergence.
The Opposition may haul up the government
over a spectrum of issues in the monsoon session
In fact, apart from the long-awaited Anti-superstition Bill and another to regulate school fees, few things offer the Congress-led ruling combine a counter to the anti-incumbency wave, as it faces the Opposition parties during the first day of the session today.
The Congress-NCP government is already under immense pressure to erect a strong defence of itself, specially after the J Dey murder case and the July 13 serial blasts in the city.
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It will mostly be on its toes in the Assembly, as the BJP, the Shiv Sena, and the MNS spare no chance to haul it over coals over a range of issues.
Following the calculated silence by Home Minister RR Patil after the blasts, the Opposition is expected to ask if the CM will take an initiative to respond to the law and order situation in the state. For his part, the CM is taking keen interest in the implementation of the Rampradhan Committee report after blasts.
His keenness became evident when he chaired crucial meetings on issues like a CCTV network in Mumbai and strengthening the police control room at the commissioner's office. In fact, during his visit to the CP office, he gave specific instructions for the effective operation of the control room.
Tea party that wasn't
The antagonism and malcontent between the government and the Opposition became more evident when the parties collectively decided to boycott a customary tea party hosted by the Chief Minister at the Sahyadri guesthouse last evening.
But in future, the Opposition may not even get an invite to the tea party as CM Prithviraj Chavan, in a reactionary move, is deliberating scrapping the old tradition. "Since boycott has become a regular feature, we will think whether to host another tea party in future," a peeved Chavan said.
Then again, the Opposition has decided to embarrass the government by raking up the theft incident in which
the CM's wife's purse was stolen in a long-distance train, despite two bodyguards protecting her.
So as, the Opposition appears to be upbeat, as the BJP, the Sena and the MNS joined hands during the recent Rajya Sabha by-election, it also received a shot in the arm when the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) decided to back the Opposition candidate, ignoring the fact that his defeat was a forgone conclusion.
Disintegrating
Where the Opposition is cohesive, the ruling Congress-NCP camp appears to be a divided house, specially after the disbanding of the politically strong Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB), when Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar wasted no time in blaming its ally, allegedly responsible for the decision.
Also, a further reticulation of the blame game was among the NCP's cabinet members when Pawar raised some uneasy issues during a Cabinet meeting on the working of the Home Ministry. Party colleague Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil only added fuel to the fire by raking up the sparse camera surveillance in the city.
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