File PhotoThiruvananthapuram: Both treasury and opposition benches in the Kerala assembly will have plenty of ammunition to attack each other at the budget session that starts on Monday.
Even though the government had sent the opposition to the defensive by calling a special session to table the Solar Commission report, its failure to take any action on the report has now put the government on the backfoot.
The opposition is likely to make full use of Thomas Chandy’s resignation from Pinarayi Vijayan’s cabinet over encroachment allegations and the differences that have developed within the ruling Left Front over it.
Efforts by Chandy’s colleagues in the NCP to claim the cabinet berth vacated by him will likely provide further fillip to the opposition attack.
Another issue that hounds the government is the CPM-CPI spat over the Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki district.
At their district meetings, the CPM and CPI had attacked each other more than targeting opposition parties, and this is set to sharpen the opposition attack on the government at the assembly.
Meanwhile, the decision of the Janata Dal to leave the UDF camp will lessen the firepower of the opposition.
Another factor to weigh on the opposition is K M Mani’s continuing indifference towards the UDF, which is unlikely to go off any time soon.
The session will start with governor’s address on Monday.
On Tuesday, the assembly will pay homage to Chengannur MLA K K Ramachandran Nair and former minister E Chandrasekharan Nair, both died when the assembly was not in session.
Government businesses will be conducted on Wednesday and February 1.
This session will consider only the Bill related to encouraging investments and making the process easier.
The budget will be presented on February 2.
After three days of discussions on the budget, the session will close on February 7.
