Bhubaneswar, Aug. 19: The Assembly was off to a chaotic start here today with members of the BJD as well as the Opposition parties stalling proceeding over various issues.

While BJD MLAs waived banners and raised slogans to protest against the Centre's neglect of state's interest, the Congress members armed with posters rushed to the well of the House demanding a discussion on the case involving IPS officer Prakash Mishra.

In the Prakash Mishra case, Orissa High Court had passed strictures against the government and the Supreme Court dismissed the state's petition challenging the order.

The BJP, on the other hand, wanted a full-fledged discussion on the soul-transfer controversy during the Nabakalebara festival.

The House, which faced five adjournments during the day, could not transact any business except introduce the Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill.

As soon as the House met in the morning, Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra pointed out that the high court had exonerated former DGP Prakash Mishra in the vigilance case filed against him by the state government and has passed strictures against the vigilance wing of police.

In view of the strictures, "chief minister Naveen Patnaik has no moral right to continue in power. There should be a discussion on the issue", Mishra said.

Speaker Niranjan Pujari turned down Mishra's request that the issue be discussed immediately.

Angered over the Speaker's ruling, Congress members rushed to the well of the House and shouted slogans against the chief minister, who was present in the House.

However, the ruling party members immediately stood up and waive banners to protest against Central neglect.

Led by party deputy chief whip Rohit Pujari, they, too, rushed to the well of the House shouting slogans. Later, the BJD legislators staged a dharna outside the House over the alleged Central neglect.

Earlier, the Speaker had admitted a notice served by BJP members for a discussion on the Nabakalebara controversy and had directed Law minister Arun Sahu to reply.

Congress member Naba Kishore Das said BJD stalled the proceedings deliberately to avoid a discussion on Prakash Mishra.

"The BJD could have given a motion to discuss the Central neglect. But, they stalled the proceedings only to avoid a discussion on the issue raised by us," said Das.

BJP member Pradip Purohit said the act of BJD members was "pre-planned".

BJD deputy chief whip Pujari justified the protest saying that the Modi government had announced Rs 1.25 lakh crore package to Bihar. Much like the UPA, the NDA regime, too, has been ignoring Odisha's legitimate demand, he said.