The winter session of the Odisha assembly starting Thursday is all set to be a stormy affair with the opposition parties - the Congress and the BJP - planning to put the treasury benches on the mat by raising the multi-crore chit fund and mining scams, while the ruling party has decided to blunt the opposition attack with its brutal majority.
The opposition parties have lined up several issues and scams to embarrass the government, especially the chit fund scam in which several BJD leaders have already been booked by the CBI.
"We will raise the issues that affect the people including chit fund scam, mining scam, land scam and distress sale of paddy. It is now crystal clear that the government and ruling party members are involved in the chit fund scam and they have looted the people," said Basant Panda, BJP legislature party leader.
The party Wednesday held a meeting of its MLAs to finalise strategies for the winter session.
The Congress party has also decided to raise a host of issues including the chit fund scam, law and order problem, Maoists and farmers issues in the assembly.
"There are several problems that need to be discussed in the assembly. We will force the chief minister to answer over the chit fund scam, which has shaken the whole Odisha," said Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra.
On the other hand, the ruling BJD said it is ready to face any attack from the opposition and discuss any issue to be raised by them.
"We are going to take up major issues of the state government in this winter session. As far as the opposition is concerned, we are open to discuss any issues on the floor of the house," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters here.
Replying to a query on the chit fund scam, he said, "The government and the party have nothing to do with the chit fund scam. It may be some individuals involved. We are happy to discuss on the floor of the house."
The BJD has 117 members in the 147-member Odisha assembly while the Congress has 16 and the BJP 10 MLAs in the house.
