Bhubaneswar: The monsoon session of Odisha Assembly, which commenced on Thursday, was adjourned for the day after an obituary reference to a sitting MLA, Rajendra Dholakia, and five former members.
Senior BJD leader and Nuapada MLA Dholakia passed away while undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments at a private hospital in Chennai on September 8. The other deceased persons whose demise was condoled in the Assembly are former Deputy Speaker Bibhuti Bhusan Singh Mardaraj and former members Prasanna Kumar Pattnaik, Karendra Majhi, Niranjan Hermbram, Prafulla Kumar Bhanj and Mohammad Rafique and two personnel of the state police – Loknath Sabar and Laxman Majhi.
As soon as the House assembled at 11 am, Speaker Surama Padhy allowed Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to move the condolence motion. The chief minister recalled working with Dholakia, Karendra Majhi and highly praised the sacrifice made by the two constables who laid down their lives on duty.
The much-truncated session is being convened for eight days with one-day break on September 21 as it is a Sunday. It will conclude on September 25.
While Congress has announced to move a no-confidence motion against the Mohan Majhi government, the BJD is set to corner the treasury benches over fertiliser shortage and growing crime against women in the state.
The BJP legislature party is likely to meet this evening to chalk out a counter-strategy against the Opposition.
On Wednesday, leader of opposition Naveen Patnaik accused the government of incompetence and apathy while highlighting the deteriorating law and order, rising atrocities against women and “man-made crisis” in fertiliser supply. He also called the government’s move to enhance the financial powers of Panchayati Raj officers as an attempt to “destroy democratic values for political gain.”
Naveen further demanded accountability for the chaos and stampede during the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.
Speaking to reporters, Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam said they would bring a no-confidence motion as people have lost trust in the government. “We will raise issues like fertiliser shortage, rising crimes against women and children, and displacement of people in the name of industrialisation,” he added.