Odisha Assembly Adjourned Till 4 PM Amid Pandemonium By BJP MLAs

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Assembly was adjourned till 4 pm on Saturday amid uproarious scenes as opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs created a ruckus demanding withdrawal immediate of suspension of two party members from the House.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, BJP legislators trooped into the well protesting suspension of party chief whip Mohan Charan Majhi and MLA Mukesh Mahaling for the rest of the monsoon session of the Assembly.

Soon after the question hour commenced, the agitated BJP members created ruckus in front of the Speaker’s podium inside the well of the House demanding the suspension of the two party members ordered on Thursday.

The angry saffron party members also demanded immediate steps to expunge the remarks made by ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Arun Sahoo about Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jayanarayan Mishra. They claimed that the remark made by the BJD legislator about Mishra’s mental health was an insult to the LoP and it must be expunged from the House proceedings.

As the Assembly plunged into turmoil, Speaker Pramila Mallik found it difficult to conduct business and adjourned the House till 4 pm.

Notably, Mohan Charan Majhi and Mukesh Mahaling were on Thursday suspended for the rest of the monsoon session of the Assembly for allegedly throwing pulses at the Speaker’s podium.

Soon after the House was adjourned, BJP members stated a protest outside accusing the Speaker of shoring partiality. They alleged that the ruling BJD deliberately wanted to avoid discussion on important issues and the House was, therefore, adjourned till 4 pm all of a sudden.

Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra also lashed out at the government saying it is the duty of the Speaker to run the House. Instead of suddenly adjourning the House till 4 pm, the Speaker should have called an all-party meeting for discussion to ensure smooth conduct of business in the Assembly, he said.