Bhubaneswar, April 3: The budget session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die on Thursday, three days ahead of its scheduled conclusion. The session saw intense discussions, particularly on the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill, which was debated for over 12 hours before being passed early in the morning.

The bill was approved at around 4:29 AM with the ruling party's majority, despite strong opposition from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Out of the 18 proposed amendments, 12 were opposed by the BJD, leading to heated exchanges in the Assembly.

BJD MLA Arun Sahoo raised concerns about the validity of the bill, pointing out that it sought to amend a 1989 law, but was introduced only in 2024. He suggested that the bill’s legitimacy could be challenged in the Supreme Court in the future.

The Assembly session, which commenced on Wednesday at 10:30 AM, continued for an unprecedented 20 hours and 35 minutes, concluding at 7:05 AM on Thursday. The debate also saw fierce arguments between the ruling party and the opposition, reflecting deep political divisions over the bill.

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