In an indication that the State Assembly’s Winter Session scheduled from Wednesday would be stormy, the BJP on Monday walked out from an all-party meeting called by Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro ahead of the session.
Deputy Leader of Opposition Bishnu Charan Sethi, who first joined the meeting and later boycotted, told reporters that the BJP is not being given proper weightage as the main opposition party.
While the Speaker permitted three BJD leaders to the meeting, the BJP’s request to allow Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi and its MLA Jaya Narayan Mishra was denied, Sethi said.
The meeting was attended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha, BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik, CLP Leader Narasingha Mishra and BJD leader Devi Prasad Mishra
The Speaker appealed to all legislators to maintain calm and allow the House to run smoothly.
It was decided that the House would sit everyday from 10 am to 1:30 am and from 4 pm to 6 pm. The first sitting on Wednesday would start at 11 am and then be held at 5 pm when the State’ Supplementary Budget proposal would be moved.
A few legislators can join the session via videoconference from different facilities like the CM’s official residence, Lok Seva Bhavan, OCCAC, LoP’s house, MLAs’ houses and District Collectors’ conference halls.
