Karnataka budget session tomorrow; uncertainty looms over government fate

BANGALORE: Amid uncertainty over its fate due to resignation of party MLAs loyal to B S Yeddyurappa, the BJP government is bracing itself to face the crucial budget session tomorrow, the last one of the 13th assembly term.

The BJP government led by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, surviving on a wafer thin majority following resignation of 14 MLAs in the last one week, faces a threat in the backdrop of threat by Yeddyurappa loyalists to quit.

Governor H R Bhardwaj will address both houses of the Karnataka legislature tomorrow, outlining the policy initiatives of the government for the year.

However, fireworks could be on cards in the coming days as opposition Congress and JDS will question the government's continuance despite losing majority.

The en masse resignation of MLAs, former minister Shobha Karandlaje's charge that government has "failed" to check attacks on women and on girls reported missing across the state are expected to generate much heat.

Shettar, who will be presenting his maiden budget on February 8, which will also be the last by the BJP government as assembly elections are likely in April-May, will have a tough job on hand to sail through the session.

MLAs and Ministers loyal to Yeddyurappa have so far not spelt out their strategy, but BJP feels they may not pose any problem.

The government's fiscal performance in implementing programmes announced in the 2012-13 budget and also the tardy phase of drought relief work would become major issues for the opposition to embarrass the government.