Widespread chaos erupted on the second day of the ongoing session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly today, leading to a complete disruption of business and forcing an early adjournment till 4 PM.
The proceedings began at 10:30 AM under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi. However, normal operations lasted barely five minutes, coming to a dramatic halt by 10:35 AM due to aggressive protests from opposition lawmakers.
Disruptions surfaced as members of the Treasury and Opposition benches confronted each other over key political issues:
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Congress Protests: Congress members raised concerns around the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) [MMDR] Act, wearing posters around their necks in protest.
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BJD Agitation: Members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged simultaneous protests regarding an ongoing controversial book issue.
The situation escalated when Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati approached the well of the House and threw posters onto the Deputy Speaker’s table during Zero Hour.
Deputy Speaker Bhoi repeatedly appealed to the protesting members to return to their seats, maintain decorum, and allow Zero Hour discussions on public interest matters to proceed. With lawmakers gathering in the well of the House, shouting slogans, and disregarding calls for order, the Chair adjourned the House until 4 PM to maintain parliamentary discipline.
The sudden adjournment has left several key discussions and legislative matters temporarily stalled.
