Bhubaneswar, Sept 22 : Senior Congress leader and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati has strongly criticized the disruption of the fourth session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly, calling out both the Speaker and the ruling BJD and BJP for what he described as a deliberate attempt to stall proceedings.
Speaking to the media, Bahinipati expressed disappointment that despite the continued deadlock in the House, the Speaker had not convened an all-party meeting to resolve the issue. He stressed that discussion and consensus are essential for the smooth functioning of the Assembly. Instead, he alleged, both BJD and BJP were intentionally colluding to shut down the proceedings.
“If the House runs and the no-confidence motion is admitted, then discussion would become inevitable. That’s what they want to avoid,” Bahinipati said. “If BJD cooperates, we’re ready for discussion. But now, both BJD and BJP are acting in coordination to disrupt the Assembly.”
He also recalled past sessions, saying that during earlier debates such as the one involving women’s issues Congress MLAs had raised demands by ringing bells and protesting, yet the Speaker had not adjourned the House. “Now, within just one minute, the House is being adjourned. The Speaker is allowing this only because of the BJD’s full support to the ruling side,” he alleged.
Bahinipati argued that this pattern shows clear partisanship and accused the Speaker of not fulfilling her constitutional responsibility to ensure that important issues are discussed in the House.
The current monsoon session of the Assembly, which began on September 18, 2025, has seen minimal functioning. On Friday morning, proceedings lasted only four minutes before being adjourned due to uproar by BJD members over the paddy procurement issue. In response, Speaker Pramila Mallik adjourned the House till 4 PM.
However, when the House reconvened at 4 PM, it lasted just another four minutes before being disrupted again this time by opposition MLAs. The Speaker then adjourned the House until 10 AM on Saturday.
Even on Saturday, the House functioned for only about 15 minutes, compared to 8 minutes the previous day, as continued protests from opposition parties again brought proceedings to a halt. The no-confidence motion, tabled by the Congress, remains in limbo as the timeframe for discussion expired without deliberation.
