The Congress had decided before the start of the session to grill the Chauhan Government on the issues of corruption, power crisis and other problems faced by the people of the state. But what happened during the Session must have come as a shock to the party's rank and file, much to the relief of the ruling BJP. The Congress has remained out of power in the State for the last seven years. The party fared poorly in the elections because of rampant factionalism during this period.

It is not as if the Congress high command is not aware of the factional feud weakening the party in the state. But what must cause concern to the party is that despite AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi's appeal during his visits to the state to sink the differences and show a united face, the party failed to do so during the session.

A senior Congress legislator, who preferred to remain anonymous, told IPA that the failure of a united opposition to put the government on the mat over its various acts of omission and commission has emboldened the latter both inside and outside the Assembly.

As a matter of fact, the Congress had a good opportunity to push the government on to the back foot on the issue of corruption, which had become the talking point among the public. Income Tax departments had raided the houses of many bureaucrats, among them a bureaucrat couple. The Lokayukta is also having houses of corrupt officials raided. Huge properties had been unearthed in these raids. Public opinion is also against the prevailing corruption. But, surprisingly, the Congress failed to go for the kill despite all these advantages!

On the issue of corruption, many legislators had given notices for adjournment of the House, but the Speaker refused to accept them. He said that this motion is permissible only in the case of urgent matters. This did not satisfy the members.

In the heat of the debate, Urban Development Minister, Babulal Gaur had said that corruption had become common and that there was no urgency for a debate on it! This infuriated the opposition members. The Speaker assured them that he would come up with his decision on the matter the next day.

The next day, the Speaker said that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, can raise the issue of corruption in his speech on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address and Chief Minister will give his answer in his reply. This did not satisfy the majority of opposition members, but some Congress members seemed to be satisfied with the arrangement.

Asked about the fate of her notice on the adjournment motion on the issue of corruption, opposition MLA Kalpna Parulekar showed to the media the copy of the answer she received to her question. The answer revealed that the Lokayukta has lodged a complaint of corruption against as many as 14 ministers. The list contains the name of Chief Minister Chauhan and some former ministers, too.

It is clear that a divided opposition has let the government off the hook on the issue of corruption. However, deputy leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Rakesh Singh denied the charge of disunity! (IPA)