As the border city of Belagavi gears up to host yet another 10-day legislature session from Tuesday, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa has decided to hold a meeting on Tuesday with the Opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party which is on a collision course, to seek their cooperation on the need for the smooth functioning of the session.
The BJP is to lay siege to the Suvarna Soudha, where the session will be held, demanding the resignation of five Ministers for their alleged involvement in various irregularities.
Addressing a press conference on the eve of the session, Mr. Thimmappa called upon all political parties to cooperate in holding the session. Describing the session as the best forum to solve the problems of the people, he urged all parties to make the best use of this opportunity through meaningful participation.
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Nearly 6,000 police personnel have been deployed at various places in Belagavi as a series of protests are scheduled to begin in the State’s sugar bowl from Tuesday.
Last year a sugarcane farmer committed suicide in front of the Suvarna Soudha, so this year the police have also set up anti-suicide squads comprising 60 members, who will be on vigil to prevent protesters taking the extreme step.
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The police will not allow protests within a 2-km radius of the Suvarna Soudha. CCTV cameras have been put up at several vantage points in the city and inside the Suvarna Soudha.
The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) has been given conditional permission to organise a ‘Maha Mela’ here on Tuesday. Police recently charge-sheeted MES MLA Sambhaji Lakshman Patil for his objectionable remarks against the Karnataka government.
Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj staged a dharna here on Monday demanding that the session adopt a resolution on comprehensive development of the north Karnataka region.
Belagavi city is all decked up for the session, with several government buildings illuminated, road medians painted and roads asphalted.