The imposition of President's rule in Bihar, the recent wave of attacks against minorities and spiralling prices are only some of the issues over which the government will be put on the mat.

The session which will predictably be stormy may also witness a regrouping of the erstwhile constituents of the United Front which has been looking forward to joining the Congress to bring down the government.

Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha has his task cut out as he has to present a Budget that will have to appeal not only to the BJP allies but also the constituents of the Sangh Parivar. This is easier said than done as the state of the economy warrants certain hard decisions.

Ironically, the Centre will have to bank on the support ofthe main Opposition party, the Congress, if the motion for ratification of President's rule in Bihar as also some key Bills are to be passed by the two Houses. The Congress, on its part, is keeping the BJP on tenterhooks as it is yet to spell out its strategy on this score, while non-Congress Opposition parties have decided to vote against it.

The Congress too is in a dilemma. While it cannot oppose Central rule in Bihar with its president Sonia Gandhi having slammed the RJD dispensation there, it also cannot afford to be seen voting with the BJP. A soft option would be to abstain itself at the time of voting. While the Congress Working Committee is meeting tomorrow, a meeting of the general body of the Congress Parliamentary Party has been convened on Tuesday to chalk out its strategy on this and other key issues. The BJP parliamentary party will also be meeting on Tuesday.

Some fireworks are in the offing during the session with the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM) resolving to stall business fromTuesday to protest against the imposition of Central rule in Bihar. In fact, the RLM MPs have decided to stage a dharna on the opening day of the session. President K R Narayanan will address a joint sitting of both the Houses tomorrow.

The government will also have to be wary of some of its allies, notably the AIADMK, Trinamool Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) all of whom have condemned the recent attacks on minorities and the rise in issue prices of essential commodities under the public distribution system. In fact, one of its allies, Om Prakash Chautala's four-member Indian National Lok Dal(INDL), has also withdrawn its support to the government.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has been giving the BJP a tough time, saying that her party would join the Vajpayee government only if the Budget is pro-poor. And more trouble is in store for the government with the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) scheduled to hold a dharna against the Insurance and Patents Bills on February 25.

The four Leftparties - CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP - meanwhile have decided to take the lead in expressing opposition to the entry of private sector in the insurance sector and the Patents Bill. The Patents Bill has been passed by the Rajya Sabha while the Insurance Bill is still before a joint select committee.

Meanwhile, Speaker G M C Balayogi met leaders of various parties and groups on the eve of the session to discuss issues of decorum and discipline in the House. He expressed concern over the time loss due to stalling of proceedings and sought the cooperation of all parties. All party leaders have assured him of the same.

Balayogi told the meeting that he had received letters from former Parliamentary Affairs minister M L Khurana and some MPs requesting him to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue of code of conduct for members. He said that the Committee of Privileges of the Eleventh Lok Sabha had recommended that a definitive code of conduct be finalised and placed before the House foradoption. "I have since permitted the committee to take up the matter," he added.