Bhubaneswar, Feb. 2: The Justice M.B. Shah Commission report on mining scam, purportedly leaked to a section of media, is likely to dominate the proceedings of the Odisha Assembly commencing tomorrow.

“Our allegations have been vindicated by the commission that said that large-scale illegal mining activities took place in the state during the present regime,” said leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh.

“We will demand the resignation of chief minister Naveen Patnaik in the wake of the indictment by the Shah Commission,” Singh said.

“The commission has exposed the state government,” said Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan.

The BJP will also raise the issue and demand a CBI probe into the multi-crore mining scam. The BJP state legislature party leader Jaynarayan Mishra said: “We will demand chief minister’s resignation on the floor of the Assembly and insist on the demand for CBI probe”.

Opposition parties had raised the issue of mining scam in the Assembly in 2009. They had demanded a CBI probe into the scam. A few public interest litigations are also pending in Orissa High Court seeking inquiry by the central investigating agency. However, the state government ordered a vigilance probe and has been maintaining that there was no necessity for a CBI inquiry.

On the other hand, ruling BJD leaders said the treasury bench was ready to face any discussion on the issue. “We are prepared to face any issue raised by the Opposition,” said chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik after chairing a meeting of party legislators.

BJD sources said the party would turn the table on the central government by blaming the Indian Bureau of Mines for the scam. The commission has blamed the Centre for the mess.

“The state government only recommends, it is for the Centre to take the final decision,” said a BJD leader.

The treasury bench will harp on its pet theme of Centre’s apathetic approach towards Odisha in a bid to snub the Congress-led UPA government.

“We will raise several issues including neglect in release of Phailin assistance, non-revision of mining royalty and neglect of Odisha in the expansion of railway network,” said Patnaik.

The session that starts tomorrow will conclude on February 13. Technically this will be the last session of this Assembly as elections to it will be held along with the Lok Sabha in a couple of months time. Political observers feel that it will be a stormy one because all the political parties will try their best to send their message to the people loud and clear.

Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan said apart from the Shah Commission report they would raise the growing incidents of crime against women, deposit collection scam, plight of migrant labourers, distress sale of paddy and other problems of farmers.

Election to the four Rajya Sabha seats, scheduled to be held on February 7, will keep the Assembly stormy as no political party has the required strength to win the fourth seat on their own. While the BJD is certain to win three seats, BJD-backed sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra and Congress candidate and IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal are locking horns for the fourth seat.

There are fears of horse-trading marring the polls. As the elections will be held during the session, the issue could provide ammunition for parties to trade charges against each other.

The vote-on-account for the first four months of the coming financial year will be presented and passed during the session.

The much-awaited Lokayukta Bill is expected to be passed during the session as Naveen had announced that it would be brought within a month. Assembly sources said the bill would be taken up on February 12.

Parliamentary affairs minister Kalpataru Das said: “Only the Lokayukta Bill would be introduced in the Assembly. If time permits, other bills may be taken up”.