Odisha Assembly : Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Dec 7: The Odisha Assembly faced significant disruption on Saturday as members of the opposition BJD (Biju Janata Dal) raised a storm of protests against Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s recent allegations regarding the sale of assistant section officer (ASO) jobs during the previous Naveen Patnaik regime.
As the House convened for the day, BJD MLAs rushed into the well of the Assembly, chanting slogans in protest. This uproar followed the Chief Minister’s assertion that ASO positions were sold for up to ₹30 lakh during the BJD’s tenure. The noisy scenes and chaos prompted Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn the Assembly until 11:30 am.
When the House reconvened, the BJD legislators continued their protest, making it difficult for business to proceed. The Speaker was forced to adjourn the session again, this time until 4 pm.
Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik criticized the Chief Minister’s remarks, alleging a conspiracy to tarnish the previous government’s reputation. She demanded details on the alleged job sales and questioned why no action had been taken against those involved if the Chief Minister had knowledge of the scam.
In response, BJP MLA Manas Dutta defended the Chief Minister, asserting that Majhi was well aware of the irregularities committed during the BJD’s 24-year rule. He urged the opposition to refrain from what he termed “cheap politics” and emphasized the need for changes in the OPSC and OSSSC Bills.
