The first sitting was devoted to paying tributes to the departed members of the Vidhan Sabha and other eminent persons, who passed away since the last session. Even this sitting was marked by interruptions from the opposition members, demanding that the House should also condole the deaths of those connected with the Vyapam scam. But the Speaker declined to concede this demand.

The second day was marked by chaotic scenes. Legislators of the BJP and the Congress almost came to blows amidst charges and counter-charges on the Vyapam scam.

Demanding resignation of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Congress MLAs said they wouldn’t allow the House’s business until he quit. Immediately after the House assembled, Congress MLAs rose from their seats demanding the CM’s resignation. The spar between the opposition and the ruling party went on for quite some time, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for an hour. Consequently, the question hour could not take place. When the House reassembled, the Congress MLAs stormed the Well and started raising their demand again. Parliamentary affairs minister Narottam Mishra brought a censure motion against the Opposition, which was passed with voice vote.

Amidst the din, the Speaker chose to carry on the business of the day and thereafter adjourned the House proceedings for the day much before lunch time. Once Speaker announced the adjournment, Congress legislators came out of the House shouting slogans against the government on the Vyapam scam.

Very soon, the atmosphere turned tense with BJP and Congress legislators pushing each other and almost coming to blows. The entire episode lasted about 20 minutes.

At one point, when the din was about to die, Congress MLA Sunderlal Tiwari started calling out for help (“bachao, bachao”) when BJP MLA Jaswant Singh Hada was seen holding him from the waist. While television and still cameras were focused on the MLAs they could be seen trying to out-shout and push each other. Later, marshals intervened to separate the MLAs.

Congress MLA Rajneesh Singh fell on the ground amidst the melee. Later, he said that he injured his leg and demanded that a medical test be conducted on him. Leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare also said that he was hit on the ribs by someone and was taken to hospital. He said the Opposition MLAs who were subjected to misbehaviour include Sunderlal Tiwari, Madhu Bhagat and Rajneesh Singh and he himself. He blamed BJP MLAs Sudarshan Gupta, Manoj Patel and certain others whom he couldn't identify for pushing the opposition MLAs.

He said he would not term this as an attack on the Opposition MLAs but their misbehaviour with them. The Congress MLAs alleged that the BJP legislators had been told during their meeting on Monday to aggressively defend the government on the Vyapam scam and not turn away from charges levelled by the Opposition.

The same story was repeated on July 22 which was the third day of the 10-day session. The disorderly scenes started from the commencement of the day's sittings. Repeated attempts by the Speaker to restore order failed and finally the session was adjourned sine die.

Proceedings of the House began with BSP MLAs rushing to the well of the House wearing aprons printed with slogans blaming the CM for Vyapam scam.

The House plunged into pandemonium after BJP MLA Narayan Singh Kushwaha rushed towards the BSP MLAs in the well demanding he be allowed to ask his question. BSP MLAs Sheela Tyagi and Usha Choudhary alleged that Kushwaha showed them his slipper.

When the House reconvened, the BSP MLAs remained in the well demanding an apology from Kushwaha. The BSP MLAs were joined by Congress MLAs who sat in the well raising slogans against the government. A BSP MLA dangled her bangles in front of the Speaker.

Meanwhile, the Speaker continued the business slated for the day with the help of the treasury benches. A number of important bills, including the supplementary budget of Rs. 8,591 crore was passed by the House within minutes.

Congress MLAs staged a brief protest inside the House followed by sloganeering at various places in the assembly premises.

Though a majority of the Congress members actively participated in their attempts to obstruct the proceeding of the House, many senior Congress legislators did not appear to be enthusiastic supporters of the tactics adopted by the leader of the Opposition. They included former Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh, along with senior MLAs Govind Singh, Arif Aqueel, Mahendra Singh Kalukheda and Mukesh Nayak. These MLAs did not speak a word about Vyapam scam in the House.

While the Congress appeared to be divided, the ruling party stood solidly behind the Chief Minister whose resignation Opposition was demanding. However, the BJP dug out an 18-year-old episode in order to demoralise the Congress in general and Digvijay Singh in particular. The BJP arranged a meeting between Anand Mishra, brother of Congress leader Sarla Mishra, who died in 1997 in mysterious circumstances. Anand Mishra handed over an application to the Chief Minister recalling that a CBI enquiry was promised at the time of the death by the then Congress government but the promise remained on fulfilled Chief Minister, on his part, forwarded Anand Mishra's application to the Home Secretary and Director General Police to initiate proper action.

It may be recalled that at the time of Sarla Mishra's death allegation were mode about the involvement of Digvijay Singh and his brother Laxman Singh in the mysterious demise.

Digvijay Singh promptly issued a statement recalling that he had asked the then NDA government to hand over the enquiry to the CBI but the Centre declined to do so. Digvijay Singh was Chief Minister when Sarla Mishra was found dead. (IPA Service)