Winter session of Odisha Assembly ends early amid protests and disruptions

Bhubaneswar, Dec 11: The Odisha Assembly was adjourned sine die on Wednesday after convening for only 12 out of the planned 30 working days.

The winter session began on November 26 and was scheduled to run until December 31, with 20 days allocated for official business and five days set aside for private members' matters.

The session opened with significant disruptions as Opposition members protested the removal of the terms 'secular' and 'socialist' from the preamble of the Indian Constitution, which was displayed in the Assembly on Constitution Day.

On December 2, the Assembly faced chaos over a potato shortage, and further disorder ensued on December 6 when discussions regarding the Polavaram dam project, managed by the Andhra Pradesh government, were denied by Speaker Surama Padhy despite calls from the Opposition Congress and BJD for a debate. The following day, BJD members protested Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's allegations that ASO positions were sold during the previous Naveen Patnaik government.

On Tuesday, disruptions continued as the Opposition protested alleged non-payment of salaries to approximately 60,000 women support staffers involved in the 'Mission Shakti' scheme.

During this session, Chief Minister Majhi, who also oversees the Finance portfolio, presented the supplementary budget for the 2024-25 financial year.