Guwahati: The opening day of the Budget Session of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly on Monday witnessed protests and a Congress walkout after Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass rejected an adjournment motion seeking an urgent discussion on the state’s power supply situation.
The motion, moved by Leader of the Opposition Wazed Ali Choudhury, sought to suspend the day’s scheduled business to discuss what the Congress described as widespread power cuts, erratic electricity supply and inadequate transformer maintenance across the state.
After the Speaker declined to admit the motion, Congress legislators staged a walkout in protest.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Rupahihat MLA Nurul Huda alleged that the government had failed to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply despite repeated assurances.
“The entire state is suffering in the sweltering heat while people continue to face prolonged load-shedding. The Assam government has failed to provide adequate electricity,” Huda said.
He also criticised the rollout of smart meters, alleging that consumers were being charged despite inadequate power supply, and urged the government to address the issue immediately.
Nowboicha MLA Joy Prakash Das said the Opposition had sought the adjournment motion to discuss the government’s claim of providing round-the-clock electricity.
“We wanted a discussion on this issue in the Assembly, but the Speaker did not admit our motion,” Das said, alleging that many parts of the state continued to experience frequent power outages.
Earlier, while moving the motion, Choudhury argued that the state’s electricity situation had assumed the proportions of a public emergency. He said prolonged outages and erratic supply were affecting consumers despite regular bill collection through smart meters.
He also questioned the state’s dependence on purchased power, claiming Assam’s electricity demand had risen from around 2,880 MW to nearly 3,000 MW, while its own hydroelectric and thermal generation remained at about 450-500 MW.
Choudhury further said irregular power supply was affecting students, particularly during examinations, because there was no fixed schedule for power outages or restoration.
The Speaker’s decision to reject the adjournment motion prompted the Opposition to accuse the government of avoiding a discussion on the issue in the Assembly.