Bengaluru: The assembly session will begin on Monday and in all likelihood the house will see ruckus over allocation of forest ministry to MLA Anand Singh.

The turncoat MLA from Vijayanagar in ore-rich Ballari is facing at least 15 cases pertaining to illegal mining and forest encroachment. This MLA, who also shares a close rapport with the Reddy brothers of Ballari has been given Forest Ministry. 

The civil societies, netizens and the opposition have raised their voice against this move of the CM, but neither the CM, nor Anand Singh seem to be affected by the same.

Singh, while playing down the matter had said that there is no conflict of interest and he has not pressed for forest portfolio.

Sources also claim that if the issue comes up during the session then the ruling BJP will show that cases against Singh were either set aside or stayed by courts.

Singh was among 17 Congress and JDS rebel legislators, who resigned from the assembly membership to help the BJP form the government in the state.He was initially given the food and civil supplies portfolio, but it was later changed to forest.

But, as per sources, it is not just the opposition that feels that the CM needs to re-look into this allocation of ministry.

Even the BJP leaders feel that the CM must consider changing the portfolio. 

“It is morally incorrect to head the department when cases are registered against him. The opposition is likely to make it a big issue in the session and the CM should consider changing his portfolio to avoid any possible damage to the government’s image, especially at a time when he is pushing his development agenda,” said sources close to the CM told TNIE.