Bhubaneswar, April 1: The Odisha Assembly’s budget session has been adjourned indefinitely, five working days ahead of schedule.
The sixth session of the 17th Odisha Assembly commenced on February 17 and was originally set to conclude on April 8. This session was organized in two phases, with a total of 28 working days planned. However, it wrapped up late Tuesday night after 22 working days.
During the session, five adjournment motions proposed by opposition leaders were debated. Two government bills were passed. Notably, a controversial law that increased salaries and allowances, passed in the previous session, was formally withdrawn on Tuesday.
On the final day of the session, the Assembly passed the appropriation bill, allowing the government to withdraw and spend ₹3.10 lakh crore from the state’s consolidated fund for the fiscal year 2026-27. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had presented the annual budget of ₹3.10 lakh crore on February 20 during the first phase of the session.
Throughout the budget session, members of the opposition parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress Party, raised continuous uproar regarding a tragic fire incident at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on March 16, which claimed the lives of 12 patients.
BJD and Congress legislators also protested vigorously over alleged derogatory comments made by BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey against the late leader and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. The opposition also highlighted alleged irregularities in paddy procurement across Odisha.
Due to various issues raised by the opposition, the proceedings of the House were disrupted for several days. The BJD and Congress parties continued their demand for the resignation of the Health Minister in light of the SCB Medical College fire incident.
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