NEW DELHI: The 10-day Budget session of the Delhi Assembly beginning on October 30 is likely to be a stormy affair as more than the opposition BJP, the ruling Congress members are expected to take on their own Government on various issues including sealing, demolitions and the controversial Delhi Water (Amendment) Bill 2006.

Interestingly, the MLAs would be welcomed by a totally renovated House that has a new seating arrangement in place for the Council of Ministers, the ruling party benches as well as the opposition benches. Provision has also been made for installation of latest devices to enable members to get access to the proceedings of the House in a much better and conducive manner. The entire press gallery has also been redone and so has been the seating for the Visitors gallery.

On the other hand, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting convened by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday noon is also going to witness fireworks as agitated members are likely to corner the Government and the Chief Minister on the issue of sealing and its failure to take the elected representatives into confidence on the issue. The Congress MLAs are also agitated over the fact that while the Chief Minister has gone ahead and given a notice for pressing a resolution under Rule 90 on the issue of sealing, no consultations were held in the CLP or with the party MLAs to chart out the line of action for the session.

Importantly, the first report of the Petitions Committee headed by senior Congress MLA S.C. Vats will also be tabled during the session. Dr. Vats had excelled as the Public Accounts Committee chairman after coming out with an outstanding report on bungling in the power sector in the process of privatisation.

Not only the issue of shortage of power and water would be raised by the BJP during the session but issues relating to outbreak of dengue and functioning of the MCD have also been listed for discussion in the House. But the sealing and demolitions issue is expected to dominate the proceedings of the Assembly as both the opposition and ruling party gear up to cross swords blaming each other for the present mess. The Opposition BJP is all set to go ahead with its No-Confidence Motion against the Sheila Dikshit Government despite knowing its fate. On the other hand, Nationalist Congress Party MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri is all set to raise the issue of corruption in the Corporation and seek its division into smaller bodies. Mr. Bidhuri had dominated the Budget session and played the role of an effective opposition in view of the failure of the BJP to raise important issues and its decision to remain out of the House for a large period of the proceedings. Mr. Bidhuri will also seek to corner the Government on its failure to fulfil its promise to waive House Tax and extend Lal Dora of the villages despite having passed a resolution in this connection in the House and having made several public announcements. On the other hand, the law and order situation would come in for sharp criticism in the House as a notice for discussion on the issue has been given by former Speaker and senior Congress MLA Subhash Chopra. Assembly Speaker Chaudhary Prem Singh has accepted the notice and the matter has been listed for discussion during the session.

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