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NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 19:

        The first session of the Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly for the year begins tomorrow with the customary address of the Governor. The house is likely to be in session for about a week or so.

        With the ruling DMK having already begun fulfilling many of its electoral promises, like free colour TV, Rs.2 rice, land for farmers and others, the address of the Governor is expected to deal with the way the schemes are likely to be implemented during the current year and also spell out the thinking in the government about projects like the Metrorail.

        The session is likely to begin on a stormy note with the en masse resignation of 98 councillors belonging to the DMK headed Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) and the demand of the opposition alliance of the AIADMK and MDMK for repoll in all the 155 wards of the Chennai Corporation. The dissenting judgment given by Justice Ibrahim Kalifullah in the civic poll violence case is likely to be utilised by the AIADMK to embarrass the government.

        The House is likely to witness heated debates with a host of inter State water disputes troubling the government. The Mullaiperiyar dispute, the impending award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal, its consequences, if the award goes against State's interest or if Karnataka fails to honour the award and the issue of the Andhra Pradesh Government's alleged allocation of funds to construct a dam across the Palar are likely to dominate the House proceedings.

        After the Governor's address, the Tamil version of it would be read out by the Speaker, R Avudayapan. Obituary mention, if any, would be taken up during the next working day.

        The Business Advisory Committee, chaired by the Speaker will meet to decide on the duration of the session and other modalities.

        The Assembly would then meet to debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor's address. The members will be given sufficient time to study the Governor's address before the debate.

        Meanwhile, sources today said the main opposition, the AIADMK and its ally the MDMK may boycott the Governor's Address.

        The stage, so to speak, seems set for a tumultuous phase.