Bhubaneswar, Nov. 24: The BJD today stalled the proceedings of the Assembly over the Polavaram dam project in Andhra Pradesh, triggering Opposition allegation that it was a ploy to avoid discussion on the deposit collection scam.

The Assembly also witnessed bedlam for a few minutes with the Congress MLAs climbing onto the Speaker's podium and breaking his microphone for not allowing discussion on the deposit collection scam.

As soon as the House met for the day, members of the Congress and the BJP, who had been creating uproar over the deposit collection scam, were seen sitting silent.

On the contrary, BJD members rushed to the well carrying posters and banners on the Polavaram issue.

They accused the Opposition of being hand in glove with each other in denying the state’s its due.

In the midst of slogan shouting, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the proceedings of the House till afternoon. When the House reassembled, it was the turn of the Congress MLAs to storm the Well carrying placards and banners demanding a discussion on the deposit collection scam.

Angry MLAs climbed on to the podium of the Speaker and broke his microphone. They threw banners at the Speaker and this resulted in a scuffle between the belligerent legislators and the security staff of the House.

In the din, law minister Arun Kumar Sahoo moved a motion for taking up the Odisha Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill and ensuring its passage. It was passed through voice-vote in eight minutes and the Speaker adjourned the House. The BJP members walked out of the House in protest against the deposit collection scam not being allowed to be discussed.

Earlier in the day, the Speaker had called an all-party meeting to discuss the issues pending before the Assembly. Both the Congress and the BJP leaders walked out of the meeting accusing the ruling party and the Speaker of not letting them voice their points of view.

“The House is being run in a dictatorial manner. The ruling party is not respecting any democratic norms,” said Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra. The Congress has been insisting for a discussion on the deposit collection scam.

The Speaker told newspersons that he has sought the opinion of the state’s advocate general on the issue.

BJP legislature party leader Basant Kumar Panda accused the Speaker of not being impartial in transacting the business of the House.

Mishra said: “The proceedings of the Assembly were disrupted by the ruling party. The ruling party keeps telling the media about that the question hour is sacrosanct and should not be disrupted. Today they violated the norm without any rhyme or reason”.

He said that at the all-party meet it was decided that a motion would be moved on the fund deposit scam. But the ruling party blocked the proceedings. There was a conspiracy to adjourn the Assembly session before the scheduled date. “It proves that the chief minister is running away from the Assembly,” he said.

The BJD refuted the allegation and its spokesperson Samir Dash said: “We are not afraid of the chit fund scam. We wanted to raise the Pollavaram issue as the Lok Sabha session begins today.”