Srinagar, Jun 18 (IANS): Opposition National Conference (NC) and Congress MLAs on Saturday disrupted proceedings of the state assembly over "shortage of rations and spiraling prices in the state".

As the speaker of the state assembly, Kavinder Gupta took his seat to start the day's proceedings, opposition MLAs stood on their seats shouting slogans against what they claimed has been the shortage of rations at the retail outlets run by the state consumer affairs and public distribution department (CAPD).

The opposition legislators also blamed the state government for its alleged failure to bring prices of essential commodities under control which they said had been spiraling out of the common man's reach.

The protesting legislators alleged that the entire administration in the state were busy trying to help the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti win by-polls from south Kashmir Anantnag assembly constituency that goes to vote on June 22.

Mufti is contesting the Anantnag assembly seat that fell vacant because of the death of her father and former Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on January 7.