Bhubaneswar, Aug 14: Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday said it would not participate in the two-day orientation programme organised by the Odisha Assembly for the newly elected MLAs.
The orientation programme has been fixed on August 17 and 18.
The BJD opposed the schedule fixed for the orientation programme.
As per the schedule, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will inaugurate the function while Union Health Minister and BJP national president JP Nadda will address the valedictory session.
“Usually either the Chief Minister, who is the Leader of the House or the Speaker becomes the chief guest of the inaugural and valedictory sessions. This time, a serious exception in the tradition of the House has been made. Both leaders are not members of the House,” said Pratap Keshari Deb, BJD deputy chief whip in Odisha Assembly.
“It seems like a BJP party programme. It is not proper that outsiders will address the Assembly programme when the Chief Minister and the Speaker are there,” the BJD leader said.
Notably, the orientation programme will be held in the Assembly premises to acquaint the MLAs with the rules and procedures relating to the business of the House, the functioning of various Committees, the budgetary process, the privileges & conduct of members and the use of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), an Assembly official said.
In the 147-member Odisha Assembly, the BJP has 78 MLAs, BJD 51, Congress 14, three independents and one CPI (M). Among them, 82 are first-timers.
