Bhubaneswar, Sep 22: The Odisha Assembly descended into chaos on Monday as opposition members from the BJD and Congress disrupted proceedings over the state government's decision to enhance the financial powers of block development officers (BDOs) and engineers, officials said.

The uproar led to an early adjournment of the House till 4 PM, with only seven minutes of functioning during the pre-lunch session.

Protest Over Panchayat Powers

The agitation began during Question Hour when BJD legislators stormed the well of the House, waving placards and demanding a rollback of the cabinet decision that raised the financial authority of BDOs and engineers from Rs2 lakh to Rs20 lakh. They accused the BJP-led government of undermining the three-tier panchayati raj system by sidelining elected representatives in favor of bureaucrats.

Congress MLAs joined the protest from their seats, displaying posters that alleged a covert alliance between the BJD and BJP. Slogans like “BJD and BJP bhai bhai” echoed through the Assembly, further intensifying the disruption.

Speaker’s Appeal Ignored

Speaker Surama Padhy repeatedly urged members to maintain decorum and return to their seats, but her appeals went unheeded. The disorder forced her to adjourn the House until the afternoon session.

Political Accusations Fly

Outside the Assembly, BJD chief whip Pramila Mallik criticized the government’s move as undemocratic and detrimental to grassroots governance. Meanwhile, Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam accused the BJD of deliberately stalling the House to prevent discussion on a no-confidence motion against the BJP government.

Kadam claimed that despite the Speaker accepting Congress’s adjournment motion notice, it was not taken up due to BJD’s agitation. Mallik countered, stating that Congress had failed to consult the principal opposition party before submitting the motion.

Also Read: Deadlock Continues at Odisha Assembly as House Faces Fourth Day of Disruption

Defending the government’s decision, BJP MLA Santosh Khatua argued that increased central funding for rural development necessitated empowering officials to expedite projects.

As tensions rise, the BJD has announced plans to gherao the Assembly on Tuesday, signaling continued unrest in the state legislature.