Hungama will make headlines but won’t help a long career: Kiren Rijiju to new Odisha MLAs

BJD and Congress boycotted the two-day MLA orientation over invitation to central ministers. They claim it undermines the CM's authority.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju greets Odisha CM Mohan Majhi while Deputy CM Pravati Parida looks on before the MLA orientation session at the state assembly. (Express photo)

Creating hungama (ruckus) in Parliament or state legislatures may make headlines but doesn’t guarantee a long political career, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said at an MLA orientation event Saturday. The remark comes as Opposition MLAs boycotted the event claiming it violated protocol.

“Don’t make hungama (ruckus) in the assembly or Parliament. To make a long tenure, they (legislators/parliamentarians) need to be well-behaved and well-researched. This will help them for effective performance. Creating a hangama will make a two-minute headline but not help to make a long career,” he said while inaugurating the two-day orientation programme.

Although Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan was scheduled to inaugurate the programme and Union Health Minister JP Nadda was meant to join the valedictory session, the assembly secretariat revised the programme. Besides Union parliamentary affairs minister, the revised programme also said Rajya Sabha deputy Chairperson Harivansh would be part of the event.

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Invitation to central ministers has caused a row, with Opposition parties Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress claiming it “undermined the dignity” of the chief minister. The Opposition also views the event as a BJP’s political programme.

Left to Right: Odisha CM Mohan Majhi, Deputy CM Pravati Parida and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at the MLA orientation session at the state assembly. (Express photo)

In his speech, Rijiju, a three-time MP, said legislators must serve people but according to rules, regulations and conventions of the assembly.

“To strengthen Indian democracy, the legislators and parliamentarians have to be very disciplined, committed and hard working,” he said. “Maryada (dignity) is significant for any sector. We need to maintain it and work hard. We are also learning and we need to learn things till we are alive”.

On BJD and Congress’s decision to boycott the programme, Rijiju said this is not a political programme and that the “giving it a political colour serves no purpose”.

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“This is an orientation programme for the MLAs especially for newly-elected MLAs conducted by the Odisha Legislative Assembly and supported by the parliament staff,” said Rijiju.

Significantly, 84 of Odisha’s 147 MLAs are first-timers. The programme is meant to acquaint them with rules and procedures relating to the House, the functioning of committees, the budgetary processes, privileges and conduct of members and use of the National E-Vidhan Application (NeVA) application.

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