Odisha Assembly erupts in chaos as BJP and Congress members clash

Bhubaneswar, March 11: The Odisha Assembly was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday as members of the ruling BJP and opposition Congress engaged in a physical altercation in the well of the House. The scuffle prompted Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn proceedings until noon.

Join the Whatsapp Channel to Get News updates in english

The chaos began when senior BJP legislator Jaynarayan Mishra approached Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati, who was standing in front of Urban Development Minister K C Mohapatra as he was answering a question. Mishra allegedly grabbed Bahinipati by the collar and pushed him.

Speaking to reporters outside the House, Bahinipati recounted, “I was trying to get Minister Mohapatra to stop speaking as the House was not in order, and I was pleading with him with folded hands. Suddenly, Mishra came up to me, grabbed my collar, and pushed me.”

The altercation quickly escalated, with members from both the BJP and Congress exchanging blows, forcing Speaker Padhy to adjourn the session. Meanwhile, members of the BJD were also present in the well of the House but did not take part in the scuffle.

Both the opposition BJD and Congress were protesting on different issues. BJD members were demanding a statement from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi regarding Mishra's controversial remark, in which he referred to the 1936 merger of the erstwhile Koshala region with Odisha as a “historical mistake.” Congress lawmakers, on the other hand, were agitating over the alleged rise in crimes against women in the state.

This incident marked the second consecutive day of disruption in the Odisha Assembly.