Terming the Sena-BJP alliance as ``one big drama,'' the leader of the opposition, Congress corporator Kisan Jadhav, made a statement demanding that BMC take up the issue of raising the maximum height of hutments to 14 feet with the state government. He said the Mayor-in-Council should not dilly-dally on the issue as it affected the lives of slumdwellers living in harsh conditions.

The ruling alliance has disallowed the rise in height of hutments to 14 feet and kept the limit to 10 feet. Gopal Shetty, deputy mayor and BJP leader in the corporation remarked the decision was only temporary and not permanent as the Congress was making it out to be. After his statement, the entire opposition walked out of the House.

Earlier, in response to Jadhav's proposal, Congresscorporator K A Bastiwala raised a point of order, saying it was ironical that the ruling alliance was itself divided on the issue. ``While the BJP is in favour of raising the height, the Sena is opposed to it. The BJP is actually going to hold a morcha on December 11 to demand the 14-feet limit,'' he said, adding the 14-feet limit existed when Congress was in power.

To this, Dr A S Rao from the ruling combine remarked that differences were only a part of the `internal democracy' within the alliance, and the opposition should not try to gain political mileage from the issue.

However, after the walkout, the House unanimously decided to refer the matter to the state government.