BANGALORE: The Congress legislators of Bangalore have expressed their resentment over the manner in which the recent legislature session was conducted and said that if the same trend were to continue in the ensuing budget session then they would have no choice but to expose the "evil designs" of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition.

Malleswaram MLA M.R. Seetharam, Yelahanka MLA B. Prasanna Kumar and Gandhinagar MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao said here on Friday that the recent 15-day session of the legislature, which concluded on February 21, was one of the "worst" which they had attended so far.

Not a single important subject leave alone the questions that they had submitted on various important issues were taken up.

Mr. Seetharam said most of the time the Congress legislators were n dharnas and demonstrations apart from marching to the Raj Bhavan to voice their grievances to the Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi.

"The coalition Government appears to have taken the Congress and the Governor for granted going by the manner in which the two houses of the legislature were summoned and adjourned. All constitutional and democratic norms have been thrown to the winds".

He said the Bangalore legislators had sought to raise the issue pertaining to the formation of the Greater Bangalore Authority (Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike) and the elections to the BBMP Council apart from the introduction of three months minimum deposit for all BESCOM consumers. Even slum dwellers have been directed to pay a higher deposit with the electricity distribution companies. "It is apparent that the coalition Government created hurdles in the legislature everyday only to cover up its misdeeds. They just did not want the Opposition to raise any discussion on important issues concerning the people of the State."

Mr. Seetharam said the Bangalore legislators had submitted over 50 questions and had planned to raise discussions on a variety of issues during the zero hour and under rule 69 (detailed discussion which calls for a written reply from the Government).

Ironically, the Government that was responsible for all the chaos during the last five days of the session had even complained against the Opposition to the Governor.

He said, "we the legislators of Bangalore are deeply anguished and disappointed and hope that the Government will provide a conducive atmosphere in the coming session" scheduled to start on March 16". It was natural for the Congress legislators to seek immediate election of the chairman since the party was in a majority in the Upper House, he added.

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