The dispute between BJP MLA O.P. Sharma and AAP MLA Alka Lamba could not be solved amicably despite in-chamber discussions for over two hours in the Delhi high court on Thursday. The hearing will continue on Friday.

However, the suspended BJP MLA will not be able to attend the special assembly session if the court does not grant him relief.

The leader had moved the court on Wednesday seeking relief from the ban, which came after he had made personal remarks against the AAP MLA. The in-chamber proceedings took place before Justice Manmohan Singh but no settlement could be arrived at, senior advocate Aman Lekhi, representing Mr Sharma, told the media.

On Wednesday, the court had asked both Ms Lamba and Mr Sharma to appear before it Thursday morning “with an open mind” to resolve the issue. The direction had come when the court was hearing a petition filed by Mr Sharma against his suspension from the House on March 31 for the next two sessions.

Speaking to the media outside the court, Mr Lekhi said it was originally agreed by both sides to withdraw the statements made against each other in a verbal exchange, but later Ms Lamba did not agree to it. He also said a draft of a unilateral apology to be tendered by Mr Sharma was brought by the other side, but the BJP legislator refused to accept it. Mr Lekhi further said the decision of the Delhi legislative Assembly to suspend Sharma was “illegal.” Mr Sharma had moved the court now as a two-day special session of Delhi Legislative Assembly commenced on Thursday. The Delhi government had submitted before the court that Mr Sharma has not “regretted” what he had said about Ms Lamba. Referring to a report of an Ethics Committee, the government had said that Mr Sharma was given chances to express regret on his remarks but he had refused.

The Ethics Committee had earlier “unanimously” recommended stripping Sharma of his membership for his remarks.