ON VIGIL: Police forces stand guard on the Assembly premises on the eve of the 40-day budget session commencing from Monday in Hyderabad. -Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: The budget session of the Assembly will begin on Monday with the customary address by Governor Rameshwar Thakur at 10 a.m. Finance Minister K. Rosaiah will present the budget for 2007-08 on February 19.

On Sunday, the Congress finalised its strategy to counter the Opposition onslaught at a meeting of the CLP and decided to "expose" their double standards, particularly regarding any deviation from agenda fixed by the Business Advisory Committee.

Widening chasm

In a clear indication of the widening chasm between the Congress and CPI (M), it is learnt that the former has planned to "target" the Left party during the session.

On the other hand, TDP deputy floor leader N. Janardhan Reddy said that his party would confront the Government on its "failures and anti-people policies". He said the TDP would, among others, highlight corruption, land issue and the inability to provide power to farmers.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti, at its legislature party meeting presided by party president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, decided to stall the proceedings, alleging lack of progress in the implementation of GO 610 with regard to repatriation of non-locals.

Utter failure

It would also highlight "injustice" to Telangana in the irrigation sector. CPI (M) floor leader N. Narasimaiah said the party would focus on the issues pertaining to weaker sections, tribals and Dalits. Though a new Government took over, there was no change in the plight of the downtrodden.

The party had decided to highlight the problems faced by them. He alleged that the Government had utterly failed to alleviate the problems of these sections despite its tall claims.

The CPI has urged the ruling party and the Opposition to set aside politics and focus on issues of public importance. Implementation of the deadline for surrender of assigned lands, creation of SEZs and problems relating to ORR projectare some of the issues on which the party members would focus on. BJP floor leader G. Kishan Reddy's week-long padayatra from Chilkanagar to the Assembly would culminate on Monday morning. He would proceed to the House after a breakfast meeting at SC Boys Hostel, Kachiguda.

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