Budget session of the Maharashtra assembly will begin in Mumbai tomorrow. Deputy Chief Minister and state finance minister, Mr. Ajit Pawar will present the budget on 26th March. Speaking to reporters in a press conference in Mumbai, Mr. Chavan informed that the government will be introducing nine new bills including Maharashtra unauthorized institutes/curriculum prevention bill Mumbai electricity tariff bill in this session and was keen to pass 13 more bills that have been pending since the last session. Mr. Chavan added that the government has asked the opposition to let the house function smoothly in this session. In a surprising and welcome move, the state’s opposition parties, BJP and Shiv Sena attended the ceremonial tea party hosted by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in Mumbai on Wednesday. The Opposition had not attended the pre-session tea party in the last three years. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Pawar informed during the press conference that considering possible difficulties in getting environmental clearance, the government has decided to shift the proposed Shivaji memorial from Arabian Sea to its sea face. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Mr. Eknath Khadse, leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly said that opposition parties were prepared to corner the Congress-led government on several issues, including corruption, drinking water scarcity, attack on journalists, farmers' issues and the Maharashtra-Karnataka Border dispute. He added that the opposition will demand a white paper on the state's debt, amount spent on the development, and on why the non-planned expenditure was on rise. The multi-crore Adarsh Cooperative Housing society scam, Hiranandani issues pertaining to construction of affordable houses builders scam and issue of illegal cultivation of opium would also be raised in the house.