The Odisha Assembly witnessed high drama as Speaker Surama Padhy rejected the no-confidence motion submitted by the Congress party, citing that the deadline for its consideration had expired due to continuous disruptions in the House.
The motion, aimed at challenging the state government’s performance, was submitted by Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam. However, the Speaker stated that the House had not functioned normally, and therefore, the motion could not be taken up for discussion.
Following the rejection, Congress MLAs stormed the well of the House in protest and later walked out. They staged a dharna beneath the statue of Mahatma Gandhi within the Assembly premises, accusing the Speaker of bias and alleging a coordinated effort by the BJD and BJP to suppress opposition voices.
Rama Chandra Kadam expressed strong disapproval, stating, “The Speaker is expected to remain impartial and give equal priority to all parties. But by rejecting our motion, she has acted under the influence of the government. This is an insult to democracy.”
Congress MLA Sofia Firdous also criticized the decision, saying, “No-confidence motions cannot be dismissed arbitrarily. Both BJD and BJP are trying to shield themselves by rejecting our proposal. Citing disruptions as a reason is laughable when the House itself is being manipulated.”
The Congress party had submitted the motion on the very day the monsoon session began, along with a formal letter to the Speaker. However, repeated adjournments and uproar—primarily led by BJD members—prevented normal proceedings, ultimately leading to the motion’s dismissal.
Congress leaders have vowed to continue their fight both inside and outside the Assembly, highlighting what they call a growing threat to democratic norms in Odisha.
