Bhubaneswar: Led by the leader of Opposition, members of the Congress and the BJP on Tuesday staged dharna inside the Assembly over the Lokayukta issue and stalled the proceedings for the second day in a row. The House could not transact any business.

The Opposition leader usually does not demonstrate inside the House on any issue. However, the present incumbent Narasingha Mishra on Tuesday sat on a silent dharna inside the House for the first time during his tenure.

"Democracy has been buried, the Constitution has been thrown to the basket and the precedent is not being adhered to. An entire day was wasted on Monday. Today (Tuesday), the same thing happened. If the ruling party wants the House to run, it should take the initiative," said Mishra and hoped the Speaker, Pradip Amat, would resolve the deadlock.

The Opposition members have been demanding a statement from chief minister Naveen Patnaik on the Lokayukta Act status that was passed in the Assembly four years ago and received the Presidential nod in 2015.

However, neither Naveen nor his government responded to the demand raised by the Opposition. The Speaker did not issue any direction to the government on the matter.

"We had demanded a statement from the chief minister on this important issue and also sought your protection. Since you did not protect us and the government did not respond, we walked out yesterday (Monday). Today, we will silently protest in the well," said Mishra.

He said a popular agitation had forced the UPA government to set up Lokpal institution to probe into corruption charges at high places.

"Almost every body had agreed to set up Lokpal and Lokayukta instituions. But in Odisha, the Lokayukta has not been appointed even four years after the passage of legislation and three years after the Presidential nod. The new law is yet to be enforced as the government has not issued the required notification," he said.

"The chief minister had promised to appoint a Lokayukta four years ago. But why is the government silent? People expect the logjam to end," said BJP Legislature Party leader K.V. Singh Deo.

The Opposition protest forced four adjournments. The Speaker eventually adjourned proceedings for the day without conducting any business. The Assembly was scheduled to discuss an Opposition-sponsored adjournment motion on the alleged deterioration in higher education sector and the House was to have a general debate on the annual budget placed on Friday.