BJD MLAs’ Orientation Programme In Odisha: Naveen Patnaik Tells How To Hold Govt Accountable Using Legislative Devices

Bhubaneswar: After boycotting the two-day orientation programme organised for the newly elected MLAs in the Odisha Assembly, opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) held a similar session for its new legislators on Sunday.

Addressing the orientation and training programme for the newly elected party MLAs, BJD president and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Naveen Patnaik them not to leave any stone unturned to use legislative devices for holding the government accountable.

The orientation programme was also attended by senior lawmakers of the regional party.
Notably, the Odisha assembly had organised the two-day orientation programme for MLAs on July 17 and 18. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the programme while Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh was the chief guest at the valedictory session.

Opposition parties BJD and Congress boycotted the programme, citing “breach of protocol”. Thereafter, the BJD organised the separate training programme for its newly elected MLAs at the party headquarters in Bhubaneswar.

Stating that the training programme organised by the assembly had political connotations, Naveen said it did not give adequate respect and dignity to the chief minister in his own state. Therefore, the BJD withdrew from the training programme organised by the assembly, he said.

Highlighting the importance of opposition in the legislative assembly, the LoP said: “BJD with 51 MLAs constitute a formidable opposition. Therefore, we must not leave any stone unturned to use those (legislative) devices for holding the government to account.”

Stressing that the opposition also owes its mandate to the people in a democracy, Naveen said opposition is as important as the government. To make the opposition more effective for holding the government to account we need to be always vigilant and active. In fact, a vibrant opposition is the best protector of democracy, the BJD chief said.

Naveen advised the newly elected BJD MLAs to be well-versed with rules, procedures, parliamentary conventions, traditions, to discharge their duties as a legislator properly.

Quoting B R Ambedkar, the BJD president said that in a parliamentary democracy, government is accountable to the legislature while the presidential form of government is based on the stability of the executive without making it answerable to the legislature.

That accountability of the government to the legislature is exercised by asking questions, moving several motions such as adjournment and no-confidence motion, calling attention notice, special, etc, he pointed out.

“These are part of the several other legislative devices which should be used effectively by all of you to hold the government to account. Besides, you should make full use of zero hour in raising various issues of public interest,” Patnaik told the MLAs.

Sharing details of the programme, BJD spokesperson Santrupt Misra told reporters that all the MLAs need to understand how to function within several committees of the legislature which are called mini-assemblies.

All members need to play a very crucial role in fine tuning the scrutiny of several bills which are referred to those committees, he said, adding that there will be ten technical sessions for the newly elected MLAs of the party.