The Budget Session of the State Assembly is in all likelihood to begin on a storm note as both ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and opposition BJP an Congress would lock horns with it over several key issues. The Naveen Patnaik Government may face questions and criticism over key issues like farmers’ agitation and the Kotia border dispute. “We will raise Kotia jurisdiction row in the House. We will also target State Government over the ongoing farmers’ protest,” said Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra after his party meeting.
The BJD also prepared a strategy to counter opposition parties. It would discuss Central negligence to State, which is facing a huge revenue shortfall due to GST and other Central schemes, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha.“The State will lose Rs 12,000 crore this year due to implementation of GST. The State Government will bear the loss of Rs 60,000 crore in five years,” said Aarukha.
The BJD would also corner BJP over allocation to Odisha in Railway Budget this year, he added.
The BJP, on its part, would target BJD over Mahanga double murder issue, Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border dispute and mandi system for farmers.