Patna, March 17: The Assembly passed a vote on account of more than Rs 40,000 crore for the financial year 2015-16 amid a walkout by the BJP today.

Finance minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav justified the vote on account instead of the full budget.

'There is a provision for seeking a vote on account for four months. Even in the case of vote on account, the government has to present the full budget and take a vote on account for four months,' said Bijendra, stressing that the delay in presenting the budget because of political circumstances was the reason why the state government had to go for a vote on account.

Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav retorted that the delay in presentation of budget was entirely because of the internal rift in the JDU. 'You all were fighting among each other for power and left the people of Bihar in the lurch,' he said before staging a walkout from the House with his MLAs.

Earlier, the proceedings in the House were disrupted during the Zero Hour when the BJP raised the issue of power tariff hike in the state.

'The electricity tariff hike is because of the inefficiency of power companies. They have not been able to curb transmission and distribution losses, which is as high as 44 per cent in the state. Customers have been penalised for the inefficiency and they have to pay Rs 113 crore. The Nitish Kumar government should pay the power companies Rs 113 crore more and withdraw the hike,' said Nand Kishore.

However, minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the BJP was envious of the achievements of Nitish in the power sector. 'People of the state are getting at least 20 hours of power supply every day,' Choudhary said.

The BJP MLAs walked into the Well of the House forcing the Speaker to adjourn it.

During the Question Hour, minister for arts, culture and youth affairs Ram Lakhan Ram Raman admitted that during 2008-2014 only 79 stadiums had been completed at the cost of Rs 60 crore against the target of 202.

Responding to a question by JDU MLA Manjit Kumar Singh the minister said: 'Even the 79 stadiums, which were said to be complete, were doubtful propositions.' He added that BJP ministers held the ministry.

The BJP reacted by asking the minister what had been the progress during the past 22 months ever since the BJP went out of the alliance. Members cutting across party line demanded a probe into the delay. The Speaker then directed the minister to look into the matter.