Ranchi, March 12: Inside the hallowed confines of the state Assembly, ruling and Opposition parties are often at daggers drawn. But today was an exception, as legislators cutting across party lines took to sabre-rattling to lash out against senior bureaucrats for their absence on Day 2 of the budget session.

As MLAs walked in at 2pm for the afternoon session slated for discussion on the governor’s address, the virtually empty officers’ gallery was not overlooked by the leaders, including Speaker C.P. Singh.

The chief secretary, home secretary and the DGP were absent, as were any of their representative.

Senior BJP member Raghubar Das had only begun with an address highlighting the achievements of the Arjun Munda government, when JVM legislature party leader Pradeep Yadav took offence. “These officials have never taken the Assembly seriously. They have no regards for the legislature,” he said and went on to sit in the Well of the House.

Sensing trouble, parliamentary affairs minister Hemlal Murmu tried to step out and find out why the official brass was absent. But, the Speaker stopped him.

Finally, on the suggestion of leader of the Opposition Rajendra Prasad Singh, the House was adjourned for 10 minutes. Another 30 minutes passed when finally, chief secretary S.K. Choudhary arrived and took his seat.

Sources said the DGP was attending an official meeting in Delhi, but none was willing to come on record.

With the House adjourned for the day amid Opposition boycott, MLAs demanded that the Assembly condemn the officials for their conduct and even deduct a day’s salary. They also sought explanations from the government.

But the chief minister himself was absent. Deputies Hemant Soren and Sudesh Mahto promised to take action against officials after an inquiry.

The Speaker, on the other hand, lamented that this was not the first instance of its kind. Murmu also claimed that both the chief secretary and the DGP never cared to meet him even when the House was in session.