Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Aug 20: The Odisha Assembly, reconvened after a 19-day break for the second phase of the budget session, was adjourned until 4 p.m. on Tuesday due to chaos over student union elections.
The Speaker, Surama Padhi, initially adjourned the House until 11:41 a.m. after Congress MLAs, led by Taraprasad Bahinipati, stormed the well of the House demanding immediate campus elections. This disruption followed an obituary reference to former MLA Sunder Mohan Majhi, who passed away on August 13.
Bahinipati criticized the BJP government for not fulfilling its promise to hold the elections, a commitment that the previous BJD administration had also failed to address since 2018.
In contrast, BJD MLAs raised slogans over the alleged assault of a government official by the Governor’s son during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Puri in July. They also called for the expungement of remarks made by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling, who had demanded the arrest of Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik for disturbances during the Governor’s address in the first phase of the session.
Additionally, BJD whip Pramila Mallik sought clarification on a privilege notice against Chief Minister Mohan Majhi for announcing reservations for Agniveers from Odisha in state uniformed services during the Assembly session. Despite efforts to resume proceedings, the continued uproar led the Speaker to adjourn the House again until 4 p.m.
