There is a sense of déjà vu about the events preceding the start of the legislature session at Belagavi, with the issue of dues to sugarcane growers by sugar mills taking the centre stage. What gives it a much sharper focus this time is reported suicide of two debt-ridden farmers within 48 hours in the sugarcane heartland of Mandya and Mysuru.
The Opposition parties — Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharatiya Janata Party — are building the issue to a feverish pitch and are already on separate campaigns in north Karnataka, while leaders are making a beeline for the houses of deceased farmers down south.
Both the parties will take up this issue in a big way during the session starting Monday, perhaps with more unity than before given the recent signs of bonhomie between BJP leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and JD(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy. The ruling Congress on its part is making some feeble attempt at showing “action” by threatening to seize sugar stocks from defaulting sugar mills.
The sugarcane issue apart, there is much ammunition stocked in the armoury of the Opposition for the coming session — ranging from charges of corruption within the Lokayukta, lottery scam, PU evaluation mess, serving of notice to Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar over illegal mining, alleged involvement of Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi’s supporters in the murder of a student in Koppal and so on.
However, this time around, the shadow of impending BBMP elections looms over all else. In fact, there is a distinct possibility of the session’s length getting curtailed, given that the leaders (especially those from the city) are keen to return to get on with selection of candidates and other poll preparations. Sources say the session may be adjourned by around July 3, after transacting the “necessary” business such as passing of the State Budget.
“All parties have to prepare for elections and staying put in Belagavi for 10 days will set us back for all preparations given that the time left is barely a month,” said a Congress MLA from Bengaluru. All Bengaluru MLAs are united in their demand to shorten the session, he added. Not surprising, considering that a lot rides on who holds the reins in the State capital’s civic body for both the Congress and the BJP. This might take precedence over all else for the present.
Sugarcane issue apart, there is much ammunition stocked in the Opposition armoury for the coming legislature session
