Odisha Assembly Chaos: Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati Suspended for 7 Days After Scuffle
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Legislative Assembly descended into turmoil on Tuesday, leading to the suspension of Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati for seven days following a heated altercation. The Jeypore legislator was penalised after a scuffle and exchange of fisticuffs during the proceedings.
The suspension motion, moved by Ruling Party Chief Whip Saroj Pradhan, received the approval of Speaker Surama Padhy. In protest, Congress MLAs attended the House proceedings wearing black masks, symbolising their dissent.
The Assembly witnessed chaotic scenes as BJP and Congress legislators clashed in the well of the House, resulting in multiple adjournments. The tension escalated when senior BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra and Congress MLA Bahinipati engaged in a verbal and physical confrontation.
Accusing Mishra of assault, Bahinipati alleged, “Mishra grabbed my collar and pushed me while I was urging the Urban Development Minister to halt his response in a disorderly House.” The Congress MLA later attempted to climb onto the Speaker’s podium and damage the microphone in protest.
The uproar stemmed from separate political grievances. The BJD demanded a statement from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over Mishra’s remark that the merger of the Koshal region with Odisha was a “historic blunder.” Meanwhile, Congress legislators raised concerns over the increasing crimes against women in the state.
Congress leader Navajyoti Patnaik criticised the BJP government, stating, “Instead of addressing crimes against women, the BJP government remains silent. When our MLAs raised the issue in the Assembly, BJP leaders resorted to violence. This is BJP’s governance—silence on crimes, aggression against those who question.”The BJP, however, blamed the Opposition for disrupting proceedings. BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy countered, “While the minister was responding, BJD and Congress MLAs attempted to break the microphone and took away files from the table. Such behaviour is unacceptable in a democracy.”
Despite Speaker Surama Padhy calling for an all-party meeting to restore order, the Assembly remained engulfed in chaos, with both sides refusing to relent.
