The Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislature will begin in Nagpur today. It would be the first regular session after the assembly elections earlier this year and installation of the BJP-Shiv Sena Combine Government. Our correspondent reports that unprecedented security arrangements have been put in place with a thick security blanket surrounding the Vidhan Bhavan and residential complexes and other important places in the city. The two to three week-long session of State Legislature is likely to witness noisy scenes during the ensuing discussion on the crisis being faced by the cotton, soya bean and paddy growers, plight of the farmers suffering huge losses due to deficient rainfall and drought like situation in Vidarbha, Marathwada and other parts of the state. The State Government has already demanded a comprehensive package of four and half thousand crore rupees from the Centre for carrying out necessary measures to help the distressed people.

But, even as the farmers and students have been extended some concessions and facilities, the things are yet to take final shape for want of assessment of damages by the Central officials in this regard so far. Several Opposition parties led by Congress party have called for the agitation today in this regard. The prominent issues likely to be debated in the session include the irrigation backlog of Vidarbha, Farmers’ suicides, remunerable prices for the farm produce, Law and Order situation, Naxalite menace, load-shedding and increased power tariff, rising inflation as well as and malnutrition and other health-related problems. Thirteen bills covering a wide range of issues would be brought for consideration apart from other legislative business during the session.