House adjourned sine die

BHUBANESWAR: Hours after the State Election Commission (SEC) announced the schedule for the ensuing three-tier panchayat polls, the winter session of the Assembly was adjourned sine die on Saturday even as Opposition Congress walked out in protest.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told mediapersons that the session was curtailed to enable the MLAs to go to their constituencies for the panchayat polls. The House was adjourned six days before the original schedule - to end on December 31. Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh, however, criticised the manner in which the decision to curtail the sitting days of the House was announced. The motion to suspend Rule 11 was brought by Government Chief Whip Rabi Narayan Pani without consultation with the Opposition, he said. Describing the Government move as arbitrary, the Leader of the Opposition said discussion on many important issues and Bills were pending. An all-party meeting should have been called before announcement of the adjournment of the House, he said.Leader of the BJP Legislature Party KV Singhdeo said he was informed by Leader of the  Opposition that the House has been adjourned before time. Singhdeo, who was in Balangir for some urgent work, said in the morning he was told that the House will continue till December 31. The House had business to be transacted, he said.Amar Prasad Satpathy (NCP) had requested Speaker Pradip Amat during the zero hour for adjourning the House as MLAs will move to their constituencies for panchayat polls. He said the Speaker should ask the Parliamentary Affairs minister to take the opinion of the Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition and leaders of other political parties and announce the decision. The Speaker had asked the Parliamentary Affairs minister to get in touch with all leaders on this issue. While the Government chief whip moved a motion proposing adjournment, the Congress members opposed it. The members, led by  Singh walked out accusing the Government of avoiding the House.