Odisha Speaker Suspends Cong MLA for 7 Days Over Unruly Behaviour

Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy suspended senior Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati for seven days on Tuesday, citing “misconduct and unruly behaviour” after a scuffle between ruling BJP and opposition MLAs. The decision followed a motion by government chief whip Saroj Pradhan, accepted by the House.

The suspension stemmed from Bahinipati’s disruptive actions, including attempting to climb the Speaker’s podium and confronting Urban Development Minister KC Mohapatra during Question Hour. On Monday, he allegedly broke the Speaker’s microphone. Post-suspension, Bahinipati staged a dharna in the House, calling the action “illegal” and accusing BJP members of assaulting him without repercussions. “The Speaker is partisan, ignoring attacks on Opposition,” he told reporters, claiming the process was undemocratic.

Congress and BJD slammed the move. Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam urged the Speaker to review video evidence and act against BJP MLAs, including Minister Mukesh Mahaling and Jaynarayan Mishra, for alleged violence. Wearing black badges, Congress MLAs protested near the Mahatma Gandhi statue, vowing to continue until the suspension is lifted. BJD’s Arun Kumar Sahoo called it unjust, questioning how BJP’s Mishra could grab Bahinipati’s collar without consequence. He said BJD MLAs would meet the Speaker Wednesday to demand neutrality.

BJP’s Ashok Mohanty defended the suspension, saying Bahinipati “crossed limits” by disrupting Mohapatra, who noted the MLA tried to break his microphone despite Speaker’s orders. Meanwhile, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan clarified Mishra’s remarks on Koshala’s merger with Odisha were personal, not government-endorsed, though BJD demanded a statement from the Chief Minister.