Winter session likely to be smooth for DF govt

The winter session of Maharashtra legislature commencing tomorrow is likely to be a smooth affair for the Vilasrao Deshmukh ministry, as the down and demoralised saffron opposition has no major issues to take the government to task.

All major issues raised by the saffron combine on and off the floor of the house before the October assembly elections have been virtually swept away with the ruling Congres-NCP DF alliance coming back to power.

However, the opposition is expected to take up issues such as drinking water scarcity in some parts of the state, drought and non-payment of Rs 2,700 price per quintal to best quality cotton, as promised by DF partners in their election manifesto, malnutrition deaths and frequent load shedding.

The state's mounting debt, which stood at around Rs 1.10 lakh crore, was likely to figure once again in the session.

Deputy chief minister R R Patil and co-operation minister Harshwardhan Patil, had recently stated here that the Cotton Monopoly Purchase Scheme would be continued despite government likely to incur heavy losses, as bumper crop had pulled the prices down for the commodity in the international market.

The multi-core fake stamp paper scam which dominated the political scenario last year, with the then deputy chief minister Chagan Bhujbal who also held the home portfolio coming under attack, has also probably died down.