Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 8 (NationPress) The winter session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly >has officially begun on Monday at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, with extensive security measures in place.

The Karnataka Police have arrested members of the Maharashtra Ekikarana Samiti (MES) for attempting to hold a convention against the Karnataka government’s choice of conducting the winter session in Belagavi. The border city is under strict surveillance to avert any potential disturbances, as opposition parties are gearing up for significant protests. The BJP has declared plans to stage a protest at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday (December 9) involving thousands of farmers.

This 10-day session is slated to run until December 19, during which over 30 bills are expected to be introduced, including a contentious bill aimed at regulating hate speech.

Opposition parties, namely the BJP and JD(S), are preparing to challenge the government, while the ruling Congress is also gearing up to face these challenges by presenting a consolidated front amidst the ongoing leadership conflict between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar.

In light of the internal power struggle, the BJP had initially considered proposing a no-confidence motion but has since retracted.

The first day of the session will be dedicated to condolence references, after which the assembly will be adjourned.

BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra emphasized on Monday at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha the urgent need to discuss the plight of sugarcane farmers, whose ongoing crisis remains unresolved.

He criticized the state government for failing to set up maize procurement centers on time, forcing farmers to sell maize at merely Rs 1,500 per quintal, considerably below the minimum support price set by the Centre. He also highlighted the pressing issues faced by cotton and tur dal farmers.

“The ongoing internal conflict within the Congress-led government in Karnataka has resulted in a breakdown of governance,” he alleged.

This session is anticipated to attract considerable attention due to the altered political landscape, the government’s controversial choices, and the expectations of the populace in North Karnataka.

Both the BJP and JD(S) have declared a unified front to confront the Congress-led government in the assembly. The opposition is poised to pressurize the state government by raising critical issues.

Concerns pertaining to North Karnataka are expected to take center stage, with the opposition likely seeking updates on the fulfillment of commitments made during the previous Belagavi session.

The Karnataka Police have taken into custody over 20 activists from the Maharashtra Ekikarana Samiti (MES) who had assembled to demand that Belagavi be included in the state of Maharashtra. Former Belagavi mayor Malogi Astekar and other MES leaders were among those arrested.

The district administration had denied the MES permission to hold its 'Mahamelava' in Belagavi on Monday, but activists gathered near the Vaxi Depot area and attempted to proceed with the event. Tensions escalated as police apprehended them, with MES members shouting “Jai Maharashtra” and voicing slogans against the Karnataka government.

In another incident, supporters of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena obstructed Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra and affixed “Jai Maharashtra” posters on the vehicles. Authorities are vigilantly monitoring the situation and have heightened security in the border regions adjacent to Maharashtra.