Guwahati, March 2 : The Assam Opposition is gearing up to corner the government into extending the probe into financial anomalies in North Cachar Hills to all public servants, encouraged by its success in extracting the CBI inquiry into the case.

The extended demand, expected during the budget session beginning tomorrow, will also include dropping of ministers whose names allegedly cropped up during the probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) but did not figure in the chargesheet.

The AGP, BJP and the AIUDF legislators held several meetings throughout the day for effective floor co-ordination in the Assembly to pin down the government.

They are determined to raise issues related to the NIA probe, price rise, dams in Arunachal Pradesh and widespread corruption in government departments.

The NIA probe hit the headlines after a weekly revealed how the agency had, in a report, named seven ministers for their alleged involvement in the North Cachar Hills scam but had not named them among the 14 charge-sheeted in November. It also mentioned that around Rs 1,000 crore was allegedly swindled between 2004 and 2009.

The controversy revolves around the allegation that a nexus of politicians, bureaucrats and militants were siphoning off funds meant for the development of the hill district. When chief minister Tarun Gogoi recommended the CBI probe after a meeting with Union home minister P. Chidambaram last week after denying to do so earlier, the Opposition claimed that it stood vindicated.

AGP working president Phanibhushan Choudhury said the party would want the ministers named by the NIA to be dropped till the CBI probe was completed to enable the apex investigating agency to get to the bottom of the matter.

He also wanted the probe to cover all public servants associated with North Cachar Hills and not only those who have served in the district.

BJP’s newly appointed state president, Ranjit Dutta, said the CBI probe had to be widened because the funds were routed through Dispur.

Price rise was another issue that the Opposition will highlight, citing Dispur as well as Delhi’s failure to rein in price. The budget will be presented on March 15.

Alleged corruption in social sector schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is also likely to figure during the session.

The council of ministers and Congress Legislature Party met this evening to chalk out a strategy to counter the Opposition’s onslaught and discuss the governor’s speech.