Shimla, August 12
For a second time in the history of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha, the House was today adjourned sine die. Such a situation had last arisen in 1980. The adjournment came following an impasse in the Assembly for the fifth consecutive day, leading to acrimonious exchanges between Congress and BJP legislators.

The sparring sides failed to resolve the stalemate on the fifth day of the monsoon session of the Assembly, which commenced on August 6. The situation came to a head as the Opposition BJP members joined the proceedings but decided to boycott Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and not ask him any questions.

Only five of the 16 sittings of the Assembly could be completed. The session was to conclude on August 29.

The Assembly was last adjourned sine die in September 1980 when Thakur Ram Lal was the CM. A violent and aggressive agitation by employees across the state had forced the adjournment.

On Tuesday, the House was adjourned after a debate on the no-confidence motion against the Congress government continued till 1.30pm. The decision was taken after repeated pleas both by the BJP and the Speaker failed to convince the Congress.

“Seeing the unruly and indecent behviour of the BJP we want the House adjourned as the government has no business to take up,” said an exasperated Virbhadra. He said, if needed, voting could he held on the issue of sine-die adjournment.

Stung by the BJP stance, the Congress today hit back with its ministers like Sujan Singh Pathania and Anil Sharma choosing to leave the House giving the Chief Minister an opportunity to reply to the queries raised by BJP members. The BJP members led by former CM PK Dhumal lashed out at the Congress for deliberately trying to avoid discussion.

Dhumal even demanded that the House be dissolved and fresh elections be held.

It was after the BJP left the House when the Chief Minister was replying to the call attention motion moved by Rajiv Bindal that the Congress urged the Speaker to adjourn the house.

The BJP members returned to the House immediately and opposed the move.