The Odisha Assembly turned into a battleground on Tuesday as BJP and Congress legislators engaged in a heated scuffle in the well of the House, forcing Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn proceedings till noon. The dramatic scenes unfolded as tensions escalated between senior BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra and Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati during a discussion.

BJP’s Jaynarayan Mishra Grabs Congress MLA’s Collar

The chaos erupted when Bahinipati stood in front of Urban Development Minister K C Mohapatra, urging him to stop speaking as the House was not in order. However, Mishra allegedly stormed towards Bahinipati and grabbed his shirt collar, leading to a heated exchange.

"Mishra caught hold of my shirt collar and pushed me. I was merely requesting Minister Mohapatra to stop replying when the House was in chaos. I even requested him with folded hands. But suddenly, Mishra came up to me and caught my collar," Bahinipati told reporters outside the Assembly.

Assembly Descends Into Chaos, Speaker Adjourns Session

As tempers flared, members from both parties rushed to the well of the House, engaging in a physical confrontation. BJP and Congress MLAs were seen pushing and shoving each other while BJD members, though present, refrained from getting involved in the scuffle. Unable to restore order, Speaker Surama Padhy had no choice but to adjourn the session.

Political Tensions Escalate Over Multiple Issues

The disruption was fueled by separate protests from opposition parties. The Congress MLAs were agitating against the alleged rise in crimes against women in Odisha, while BJD legislators demanded a statement from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi regarding Jaynarayan Mishra’s controversial remarks calling the 1936 merger of erstwhile Koshala with Odisha a "historical mistake."