Ruckus in Odisha assembly gets house adjourned. | (Photo Courtesy: X/@arabindamishra2)
The Odisha Legislative Assembly on Wednesday descended into chaos as the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a dramatic walkout, demanding an official statement from Speaker Surama Padhy regarding the alleged assault on Congress MLAs by security personnel. The turmoil followed the suspension of all 14 Congress MLAs, further escalating political tensions in the state.
Suspension of Congress MLAs Triggers Political Uproar
Senior Congress legislators Tara Bahinipati and Ramesh Jena were suspended for seven days for allegedly disrupting the House proceedings. Despite repeated warnings, their protest—beating gongs near the Speaker’s podium—prompted the decision. Speaker Surama Padhy justified the suspension, citing their unruly behavior and the need to maintain decorum. With their suspension, all 14 Congress MLAs have now been removed from the House, a move the Congress party has condemned as an attack on democracy and an attempt to silence opposition voices.
Alleged assault on Congress MLAs sparks protest
The political storm intensified following allegations that security personnel had forcibly evicted Congress MLAs from the Assembly premises around 2 AM. Suspended MLAs claimed they were physically assaulted during the eviction, forcing them to spend the night on the streets near the Congress party office.
In response, the suspended Congress legislators, joined by party leaders and workers, staged a sit-in protest outside the Assembly premises. The protest escalated into a heated confrontation between Congress supporters and the police, with dramatic scuffles breaking out. Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka and MLA Pabitra Saunta were among those detained by the police during the demonstration.
BJD’s walkout and Demand for accountability
The BJD, which currently holds 51 seats in the 147-member Odisha Assembly, strongly disapproves of the alleged assault on opposition MLAs. Its members walked out of the House, insisting on a statement from Speaker Surama Padhy regarding the incident. BJD leaders criticized the BJP-led government for failing to protect opposition voices and accused it of authoritarian tactics.
Congress demands House Committee Probe into crimes against women
Even as the Assembly was in turmoil, Congress MLAs who were not yet suspended continued to protest. Tara Bahinipati and Ramesh Jena led the charge, demanding the formation of a House Committee to investigate crimes against women during the BJP’s eight-month rule in Odisha. Their continued protests inside the House led to their eventual suspension for a week.
Growing Political turmoil in Odisha
Since March 7, the Odisha Assembly has been near-continuous pandemonium, with opposition parties challenging the ruling BJP on multiple fronts. The Congress party has intensified its accusations against the BJP, alleging political suppression and heavy-handed tactics against opposition leaders. The ongoing confrontation signals a volatile political landscape in the run-up to the upcoming elections.
With the Assembly now devoid of Congress MLAs and BJD’s walkout adding to the crisis, governance in Odisha faces an impasse. The opposition parties have vowed to continue their protests both inside and outside the Assembly, setting the stage for further clashes in the coming days.
