The Odisha Legislative Assembly on Thursday witnessed uproarious scenes over Congress leader Ajoy Kumar’s remarks against NDA presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu.

Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukh had to adjourn the House repeatedly as the BJP and Congress face-off continued on the issue and pandemonium refused to die down. No work could be taken up during the morning session.

On the other hand, the BJP organised a protest rally outside the state Assembly, attempting to project the Congress as anti-tribal and anti-Odia. The party also burnt the effigies of Congress leaders.

The BJP objected to Kumar’s reported remark in which he said that Murmu represents a “very evil philosophy of India” and should not be made a symbol of the “adivasi”.

On Tuesday, Kumar had said: “Its not about Droupadi Murmu. Yashwant Sinha is a good candidate and Droupadi Murmu is also a decent person. But, she represents a very evil philosophy of India. We should not make her a symbol of the ‘Adivasis’. We have President Ram Nath Kovind, yet the Hathras incident took place. Has he said a word? The condition of Scheduled Castes has become worse.”

As soon as the business of the House commenced for the day at 10.30am, the BJP members raised the issue during the Question Hour and stormed into the well of the House, demanding a censure motion against the Congress for the alleged defamatory remarks against Murmu, who hails from tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district. Even they raised slogans against Rahul Gandhi and Kumar.

“It’s not the view of Kumar but the view of the Congress and its leader Rahul. The Congress should tender an unconditional apology and the Odisha Assembly should pass a censure motion against the party,” said senior BJP MLA and Opposition chief whip Mohan Charan Majhi.

The Congress objected to it and trooped into the well of the House. The party members said the issue should not be raised in the House as it has no relevance to the Assembly. The valuable time of the Assembly should not be killed, the Congress said. Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra said: “As she represents the ideology of a particular party, we are opposing that. Any discussion on Rahul and Kumar should not be held in the House as they are not members.”

Senior Congress MLA Suresh Kumar Routray said: “The issue has no relevance to the Odisha assembly. BJP is using her name to politicise the entire issue. They are trying to gain political mileage.”

Accusing the BJP of creating disturbance for the sake of publicity, Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said the BJP leaders had failed to understand what Kumar had said. “The BJP is known for enacting drama and wasting the time of the Odisha assembly which is run by the people’s money,” said Bahinipati.

The ruling BJD maintained a cautious approach. “The personal attack on Murmu is condemnable but the House should be allowed to run,” said senior BJD MLA Debi Prasad Mishra

As the chaos continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till 4pm in two phases. However, normalcy was restored when it reassembled following a request from the deputy Speaker to all the members to cooperate in the business transaction.