BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed heavy turmoil on Tuesday as opposition leaders protested against controversial remarks made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey regarding the late Biju Patnaik. The legendary leader and former Chief Minister is a revered figure in Odisha, and the opposition termed the comments a direct hit to "Odia pride." 
Odisha Assembly Erupts: Opposition Slams BJP MP for Biju Patnaik Remarks


Chaos Leads to Adjournments

The trouble began during the morning session. Members of the opposition shouted slogans and rushed to the center of the House. Due to the continuous shouting and disruption, Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the proceedings until 11:30 AM.
When the House met again, the atmosphere remained tense. Prasanna Acharya, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, condemned the BJP MP's statement. He stated that insulting a freedom fighter like Biju Patnaik hurts the sentiments of all Odia people. He requested the Speaker to allow a formal discussion on the matter, noting that a notice had already been submitted.

Speaker’s Ruling and Government Business

Speaker Surama Padhy acknowledged the notice but informed the House that she would consult the Business Advisory Committee before allowing a full debate. However, the opposition demanded an immediate discussion, leading to further arguments.
Despite the chaos, the government managed to conduct some essential business during the Zero Hour:
  • Minister Mukesh Mahaling presented the 64th annual report of the Odisha State Warehousing Corporation.
  • Chief Whip Saroj Kumar Pradhan and MLA Dusmanta Kumar Swain presented various committee reports.
  • Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi tabled the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.

Appropriation Bill Tabled

Later in the day, Chief Minister Majhi introduced the Appropriation Bill for the 2026-27 financial year. Even as the Bill was being introduced, the opposition continued their protest during Question Hour. Because of the noise, the House could only take up four questions out of the scheduled list.
In the afternoon session, the House finally began a long discussion on the Appropriation Bill. Members from both the ruling party and the opposition participated in the debate. Prominent MLAs, including Arabinda Mohapatra, Sidhant Mohapatra, and Sofia Firdous, shared their views on the budget and state spending.
The day ended with the opposition maintaining their firm stance against any remarks that belittle the state's historical icons.