Assembly adjourned thrice on the Third Day

Chaos and pandemonium prevailed in the state assembly for the third consecutive day. The opposition and ruling alliance failed to reach a consensus over the rule under which the police lathicharge issue would be discussed. That led to further trouble and the speaker had to adjourn the house thrice in the day. Later, he had to adjourn the house for the day.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged the Centre to hike the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy from Rs 695 to Rs 1,000. He wrote a letter to PM Manmohan Singh in this regard. The latest move by the Chief Minister is seen as a strategy to divert the attention from the lathicharge on farmers and appease the larger farmer community ahead of assembly elections to be held next year.