Raipur – The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly witnessed heated scenes on Thursday as the opposition raised the issue of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder shortages in the state, leading to the suspension of several Congress MLAs.
Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant stated that citizens and hotel operators across the state are facing severe difficulties due to the non-availability of cylinders. The situation escalated when BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar argued that the matter falls outside the jurisdiction of the House. This remark triggered aggressive sloganeering from both the treasury and opposition benches.
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel demanded a discussion on the issue through an adjournment motion, citing public interest. However, the Chair rejected the motion, noting that the subject pertains to the Central Government. Following the rejection, opposition members entered the Well of the House while shouting slogans, resulting in their subsequent suspension.
In a separate development, BJP MLA Lata Usendi questioned her own government regarding pending payments for official programmes conducted on oral and written orders. Minister Shyam Bihari Rajwade assured the House that payments would be cleared following a verification of documents. Taking a dig at the administration, Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma remarked that if the government was not listening to its own MLA, the opposition had little hope for redressal.
Concerns over Rising Road Fatalities
Earlier in the session, the House discussed the rise in road accident deaths. Akaltara MLA Raghavendra Singh sought reasons for the increase in fatalities in 2025 but claimed the response was unsatisfactory.
Data presented in the House revealed that 76 people died in road accidents in the Akaltara region in 2024, a figure which rose to 86 in 2025. Between 1 January and 14 February 2026, 13 deaths have already been recorded.
Minister Kedar Kashyap attributed the accidents to road expansion, an increase in the number of vehicles, and negligence by drivers. He stated that the death ratio in 2025 had decreased compared to 2024. The Minister further mentioned that the government is conducting awareness campaigns and will coordinate with relevant departments to address “black spots” where frequent accidents occur.
MLA Ajay Chandrakar suggested that since road safety involves the Home, Transport, and Public Works departments, a coordinated approach is necessary to reduce fatalities.
