Bringing down the House: Odisha Assembly adjourned twice

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Odisha Assembly was adjourned twice today amid uproar as opposition Congress stormed into the well alleging a 'fixing' during the Question hour by the ruling BJD.

As the House assembled for the day, Speaker Pradip Amat called out the name of BJD MLA Khageswar Behera for the first question relating to Home department and meant to be replied by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Though the Chief Minister was present, Behera was yet to enter into the House, prompting Congress MLAs to allege that he deliberately avoided entering despite being present in the Assembly building as part of a 'fixing' by the ruling BJD.

As the Speaker moved to the next question, Congress members trooped into the well alleging a deliberate move by BJD to skip the first question which would have led to a discussion on Naxal problem.

Shouting slogans, Congress legislators threw a chair into Speaker's podium and snatched papers from his table demanding declaration of Kalahandi as drought affected district.

As unruly scenes prevailed, Speaker adjourned the House till 12 noon after which members discussed law and order problem.
Opposition Congress voiced concern over security of MLAs citing the killing of legislator Jagabandhu Majhi in Nabarangpur district on September 24.

House was again adjourned till 3 pm following pandemonium over the issue as Congress members again stormed into the well. Later outside the House, Behera said he went due to stomach upset.