Biju Janata Dal and Congress MLAs attempt to climb over the podium of Assembly Speaker Suram Padha during the budget session of Odisha Assembly in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Friday, March 20, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI
The Odisha Assembly was adjourned for the fourth consecutive day on Friday (March 20, 2026) after frequent adjournments as the opposition BJD and Congress demanded the resignation of Health Minister Mukesh Mahalinga over a hospital fire that left 12 patients dead.
The House witnessed rowdy scenes from the very beginning when it met for question hour at 10.30am.
Editorial | A fire and another fire: About fires in the hospital’s ICU, patient safety
Holding placards and shouting anti-government slogans, Opposition members thronged the well of the House demanding the minister’s resignation, blaming the state government for the death of 12 patients at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
The fire broke out in the trauma care ICU of a leading government hospital early on March 16.
The agitating members tried to climb the lectern and were prevented from doing so by the marshals. Opposition MLAs raised slogans like “Ram Naam Satya Hai” and “(CM) Mohan Majhi Hai Hai” when Speaker Suram Padhy allowed Education and Mass Education Minister Nityanand Gond to answer certain questions.
The minister’s reply could not be heard over the din.
Since the Speaker was unable to preside, he first adjourned the House until 11:30 am and later until 4:00 pm. She called an all-party meeting to break the four-day stalemate.
However, Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik made it clear that they will not withdraw the agitation until the minister resigns on moral grounds.
“Who is responsible for the death of 12 patients and burns of 11 others in a government hospital?” Mrs. Mallik asked.
She cited the resignation of the then health minister Atana S Nayak over a similar fire tragedy in a private hospital in 2016 during the BJD regime.
“Where is the morality of the BJP government? This time the incident happened in a government facility,” Mallik said, adding that the opposition would fight for justice.
BJP member Ashok Mohanty rejected the opposition’s demand, saying the minister’s resignation would not solve the problem.
“The previous BJD government did not take any fire prevention measures in SCB Medical College Hospital during its 24-year tenure. Now, in two years, the BJP government has provided ₹800 crore for infrastructure development of SCB Medical College. Things could not be fixed overnight,” Mr. Mohanty said.
He added that the government has suspended four officials, announced ex-gratia to the families of the victims and also ordered a judicial inquiry.
The House witnessed a similar situation in the last three days on this matter.
Published – 20 March 2026 14:38 IST
