Odisha Assembly session stalled twice amidst uproar by BJD and Congress

Bhubaneswar, Aug 20: The second phase of the Odisha Assembly Session opened turbulently on Tuesday, with significant disruptions caused by opposition parties Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

They clashed over two major issues: the delay in college union elections and the alleged inaction concerning an incident involving the Governor’s son. The uproar was so intense that the Speaker had to adjourn the session just minutes after it began, rescheduling it for 11:41 am.

The session began on a somber note, with the Assembly paying tribute to former Jashipur MLA Sundar Mohan Majhi. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi proposed a condolence motion, which was supported by opposition leader Pramila Mallik. A moment of silence was observed to honor the late leader.

Subsequently, the House experienced significant disruption as Congress and BJD members clashed over their respective issues. The Congress party demanded action on the long-delayed college union elections, while the BJD expressed outrage over the lack of response to an alleged assault by the Governor’s son on assistant section officer Baikuntha Pradhan. The BJD accused the ruling party of attempting to deflect attention from this issue and called for accountability.

After the initial adjournment, the session resumed at 11:41 am but was soon adjourned again until 4 pm due to ongoing disturbances. When the House reconvened, Congress and BJD members resumed their protests, leading the Speaker to once more adjourn the session, this time until 4 pm.