Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly on Monday witnessed uproar after Speaker Surama Padhy rejected a notice submitted by the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) seeking to move a no-confidence motion against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
The CLP had filed the notice on September 18, the opening day of the Monsoon Session, accusing the government of failing to address issues such as rising crimes against women, agrarian distress, unemployment, and exploitation of Dalits and Adivasis.
Congress had also urged the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the principal opposition party, to support the motion.
Explaining her decision, the Speaker said, “The CLP leader along with 14 MLAs had submitted a notice for a no-confidence motion to the Assembly secretary on September 18. I had asked them to table it in the House the following day. However, the motion could not be moved due to continuous disruptions in the proceedings.”
Unhappy with the rejection, Congress legislators staged a protest near the Speaker’s podium before walking out of the House. They later sat on a dharna near the Gandhi statue inside the Assembly premises.
Earlier, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das had appealed to the BJD to bring a no-confidence motion of its own against the BJP government during the current session, or at least support a Congress-led move.
In the 147-member House, the ruling BJP commands a majority with 78 MLAs and the support of some independents. The BJD holds 50 seats, while Congress has 14 MLAs, backed by the lone CPI(M) member.
