Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's government has survived after clearing a sudden voice vote in the state assembly.

The Opposition is furious with the conduct of the Speaker who reportedly did not allow the debate to continue. Many of them are now marching to the Raj Bhawan.

The debate in the assembly began earlier in the day after Patnaik's government was reduced to a minority after his party, the BJD, split with its decade old alliance partner -- the BJP.

The CPI, CPM, NCP and the JMM, who together have eight legislators, decided to support Patnaik and bail out the government during the floor test. The BJP legislature party had issued a whip to all members for voting against the Patnaik government.

PTI adds:

Earlier in the morning, amidst noisy scenes, Patnaik moved the vote of confidence in the 147-member state Assembly -- four days after the BJP withdrew support to his government.

Moving the motion, the Chief Minister claimed he enjoyed the support of more than 74 legislators and was facing the floor test in the special session on the directions of Governor M C Bhandare.

The trust motion was moved amidst uproarious scenes as opposition Congress stormed the well saying it was being held after announcement of the elections and that the exercise might influence the voters' mind.

Describing the floor test as "violative of model code of conduct", Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said the Speaker Kishore Mohanty should convene a meeting of all political parties before the motion could be debated.

While Congress stand was supported by BJP, the Speaker said there were instances when special sessions of Assemblies had been convened in Assam and Mizoram under similar circustances.

"There is no restriction in convening Assembly session after announcement of poll dates," he said.

The Chief Minister was directed by the Governor to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly when he paraded 75 of the 147 MLAs of the house before him on March 8, a day after his government was reduced to a minority following withdrawal of BJP support.