According to Pakaj Agarwal, a structural engineer who heads the Vaastu institute, there are many defects in the building “leading to imbalance of energy and radiation of negativity.”

Of his report, he said: “Vidhan Sabha is like a heart of the state. The state will crumble if the heart is weak.” Before carrying out corrections, another group of seven experts, including two from abroad, would examine the building, he said.

Correa was not available for comment, and the Speaker is away on a foreign tour to study the functioning of parliament. But MLAs are divided on whether Vaastu corrections should be carried out.

Of Vijayvargiya’s plans, BJP MLA Shadora Gopilal Jatav said, “He’s our leader. He must have put some thought into it.” As for him, he says he believes in God, and the rest is meaningless.

Another BJP MLA, Brujendra Tiwari, said: “I don’t believe in it. If I were to move into my new house, I won’t bother about it all.”

A former Speaker of the Congress regime, Srinivas Tiwari, dismissed the Vaastu idea. He himself had organised a yagna in the building, but says “that was just a puja.”

The most forthright comment was from the only Communist MLA in the Assembly, Ramlakhan Sharma.

He said: “Sarvadosh to party mein hai. They are making a fool of people. The Congress is no better, they join the bandwagon at times. What about the deaths of those who are not MLAs?