BHUBANESWAR: Opposition political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are all set to target the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the assembly on Monday over the issue of alleged manipulation of election process at the nomination level which deprived Ranendra Pratap Swain from membership of the house.Many Congress leaders are of the opinion that rejection of Swain’s nominationpapers in the 2009 election and developments after that had more to do with internal politics of the BJD. The issue is likely to be raised by both the BJP and the Congress in the house on Monday.Money and administrative power are being utilised by the BJD to win the elections. They had done it in the 2009 elections and the by-poll to the Umerkote assembly constituency and are prepared to do so in the panchayat polls of 2012, opposition whip Prasad Harichandan said.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced at least a dozen populist schemes during the last two months in health, social and education sectors and for the welfare of the tribals. This has put the opposition political parties in a very difficult situation.The Umerkote by-poll has demoralised the Congress and the BJP after the convincing victory of the BJD candidate Subhas Gond.The padayatra of the Congress to counter the announcement of schemes by Naveen and make the people aware about the welfare programmes initiated by the Centre has also not made the desired impact.The opposition is, however, readying to corner the ruling BJD in the house byraising several issues. Besides the Supreme Court judgement which has unseated the Athagarh MLA Ramesh Rout, the visit of the Shah Commission has given an opportunity to the opposition to embarrass the government.The deteriorating law and order situation and inability of the state government to counter the naxalites in an effective manner would also be raised.It has recently come to light that three MLAs from western Odisha districts have been targeted by the naxalites.
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