PANJIM: With the Congress leaders donning Opposition benches, being cornered with the police complaints against them, all eyes are now on the upcoming State Legislative Assembly session to see whether these roaring legislators will still continue their zeal or lose the steam.

The police investigations are currently underway against Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar and former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, both of whom are granted anticipatory bail. Kamat is still fighting for anticipatory bail in two of the cases related to the mining scam.

The session, which will begin on December 13, may be a short one, but still would be a litmus paper test for Opposition benches, who appear to be divided amongst themselves.

The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) will be meeting on Monday to prepare a strategy for the session and to have better floor co-ordination to corner BJP-led coalition government. The issues like coal pollution, nationalisation of rivers and multiple planning and development authorities, are some of the controversial issues that will rock the floor.

“We are meeting on Monday to work out detail strategy for the session. We have to ensure that we are united against government to corner them on the issues that are of public interest. We are not going to oppose the government decision just for the sake of opposition; but we will put up public sentiments and demands before the government,” Kavlekar told Herald.

Though Kavlekar had tried to counter ruling benches during the Monsoon Session held in July-August, the developments that took place after that certainly rattled him, toning him down to a great extent.

The long-pending inquiry against Kavlekar before Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) took a pace for some time after Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma gave a nod for it. Trouble mounted for the Leader of Opposition when several matka gambling slips were found at his house during police raid.

Kavlekar family, including his wife Savitri and his brother, are under radar of the police investigation. 

“The investigation or cases against me have nothing to do with Congress. I am CLP leader and will act as leader on the Floor. The cases will be decided by the Court. But that will not hamper my fight against the anti-people polices of the Government,” he said.

The Quepem MLA admitted that the entire act of the investigating agencies, under pressure from Government, is a clear indication that it is to suppress the voice of the Opposition.

Another senior leader Kamat has been running from one court to another filing anticipatory bail petitions. After the investigations into the main mining scam which are being investigated by Crime Branch’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), he is right now in a tight spot over Condonation of Delay of mining leases.

“Kamat had also raised his voice during the last session. The investigations taking pace just ahead of session, itself shows that government want to ensure that there are no voices against them on the Floor of the House,” sources said.

The only Opposition in the Assembly is likely to be from Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco who has been vociferous on the floor of the House. Lourenco has been the lone soldier fighting for the cause of Congress through press conferences. On the other hand the senior leaders, including Luizinho Faleiro, Ravi Naik and Pratapsingh Rane have gone on mute mode.

“I don’t mind whether anyone supports me or not. But I am ready to take on the government on the issue of coal, river nationalisation. I will expose the government,” Lourenco said adding ‘government has nothing in hand that they can use against me and try to suppress my voice’.

While Congress is gearing up, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has already instructed all the ministers to do thorough home work on their portfolios and has asked ruling MLAs to be prepared to attack opposition.