Odisha assembly works overnight, passes 2 bills in marathon session | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Taking a break from the cycle of disruptions that the assembly had been witnessing over the past few weeks, legislators cutting across party lines sat for 16 hours to pass two crucial bills before the House was adjourned sine die at 7 am on Thursday.
Both ruling BJP and opposition BJD members participated in the marathon session that began at 10:30 am on Wednesday, taking only a two-hour lunch break.
On a day Lok Sabha members passed the Waqf Bill following a lengthy debate, members of the Vidhan Sabha discussed the Odisha University Amendment Bill, 2024, for more than 12 hours before the House cleared it around 4.30 am.
Following a break — Odisha Divas on Monday and Eid on Tuesday — the House reconvened on Wednesday with unprecedented understanding between the two benches. The day began with a productive question hour session, followed by Zero Hour and an adjournment motion discussion with no disruption.
The highlight of the session was the extensive debate on the Odisha University Amendment Bill, 2024. The Bill’s passage is crucial as it addresses recruitment issues in universities that have been stalled due to a pending Supreme Court case challenging the 2020 amendment.
Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, deputy chief minister Pravati Parida, and 12 other ministers were present when the crucial Bill was passed. The House also cleared the State Highways Authority Bill, 2025, before it was adjourned.
The rare show of bipartisan cooperation was hailed by both parties as an exemplary execution of legislative business.
“This is a historic day for Odisha’s legislative history,” parliamentary affairs minister Mukesh Mahaling said, adding, “The extensive debate on the University Amendment Bill sets a new precedent for legislative discourse.”
He noted that the chief minister actively participated in the discussions, and opposition leader Naveen Patnaik was present during some stages of the debate.
Deputy leader of opposition Prasanna Acharya praised the proceedings. “This session demonstrates our commitment to legislative responsibilities. The people of Odisha will appreciate how their representatives can work together when needed,” Acharya said.
The marathon session is being particularly celebrated as a learning experience for first-time MLAs, showcasing the assembly’s capability to conduct thorough legislative discussions without disruptions. A significant part of the proceedings was the absence of 14 Congress MLAs who were serving their suspension period of seven working days since March 26.
Both ruling BJP and opposition BJD members participated in the marathon session that began at 10:30 am on Wednesday, taking only a two-hour lunch break.
On a day Lok Sabha members passed the Waqf Bill following a lengthy debate, members of the Vidhan Sabha discussed the Odisha University Amendment Bill, 2024, for more than 12 hours before the House cleared it around 4.30 am.
Following a break — Odisha Divas on Monday and Eid on Tuesday — the House reconvened on Wednesday with unprecedented understanding between the two benches. The day began with a productive question hour session, followed by Zero Hour and an adjournment motion discussion with no disruption.
The highlight of the session was the extensive debate on the Odisha University Amendment Bill, 2024. The Bill’s passage is crucial as it addresses recruitment issues in universities that have been stalled due to a pending Supreme Court case challenging the 2020 amendment.
Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, deputy chief minister Pravati Parida, and 12 other ministers were present when the crucial Bill was passed. The House also cleared the State Highways Authority Bill, 2025, before it was adjourned.
The rare show of bipartisan cooperation was hailed by both parties as an exemplary execution of legislative business.
“This is a historic day for Odisha’s legislative history,” parliamentary affairs minister Mukesh Mahaling said, adding, “The extensive debate on the University Amendment Bill sets a new precedent for legislative discourse.”
He noted that the chief minister actively participated in the discussions, and opposition leader Naveen Patnaik was present during some stages of the debate.
Deputy leader of opposition Prasanna Acharya praised the proceedings. “This session demonstrates our commitment to legislative responsibilities. The people of Odisha will appreciate how their representatives can work together when needed,” Acharya said.
The marathon session is being particularly celebrated as a learning experience for first-time MLAs, showcasing the assembly’s capability to conduct thorough legislative discussions without disruptions. A significant part of the proceedings was the absence of 14 Congress MLAs who were serving their suspension period of seven working days since March 26.
