Congress Suspends Three MLAs for Cross-Voting in Rajya Sabha Election
In a significant political development in Odisha, the Congress party on Tuesday suspended three of its legislators, a day after they, along with eight BJD MLAs, engaged in cross-voting. This action led to the defeat of Dr Datteswar Hota, an independent candidate backed by both parties in the Rajya Sabha election. The suspended Congress MLAs are Sofia Firdous, Ramesh Jena, and Dasarathi Gomango.
Congress Moves for Disqualification Under Anti-Defection Law
Congress has formally moved Speaker Surama Padhy, seeking the disqualification of the three suspended MLAs. Sofia Firdous is notably the daughter of former MLA Mohammed Moquim, who was previously expelled by Congress and has since decided to form his own political party. The disciplinary committee of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, chaired by Sujit Padhi, stated that the trio was suspended for "violating the party whip" and "voting for the BJP-backed candidate."
Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam submitted a petition to the Speaker, arguing that the cross-voting constitutes defection under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. Kadam emphasized that their conduct "has not only undermined party discipline, but also goes against the democratic mandate under which they were elected." He urged the Speaker to initiate disqualification proceedings and also requested a change in their seating arrangement in the House.
BJD Accuses MLAs of Betrayal for Financial Gain
Meanwhile, the BJD has accused its eight cross-voting MLAs of "betraying the party for money," promising swift action. Their votes ultimately helped BJP-backed independent candidate Dilip Ray secure victory in a closely contested seat. BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty asserted, "BJD leadership has zero tolerance for any indiscipline and action will soon be taken against MLAs who betrayed the party and the people who elected them."
At a press conference, BJD MLAs Pramila Mallik, Byomkesh Ray, and Dhruba Charan Sahoo alleged that the eight legislators voted "in exchange for large sums of money," though the accused MLAs denied these claims. Sahoo highlighted that Rengali MLA Sudarshan Haripal had rejected an offer of Rs 15 crore to vote against the party, upholding the whip. He further criticized some cross-voting MLAs for invoking Biju Patnaik's legacy, recalling that in 1995, similar leaders fielded independent candidates in over 30 seats, blocking Patnaik's return as chief minister and aiding Congress.
Cross-Voting MLAs Cite Ideological Reasons
Among the BJD MLAs who voted against the party, Devi Ranjan Tripathy and Souvic Biswal defended their actions by citing Biju Patnaik's legacy. Tripathy argued that Dilip Ray was a close associate of Patnaik, while Biswal mentioned that his father, former MLA Pravat Biswal—expelled earlier by the BJD—had been insulted by the party. Sahoo added that leaders with past involvement in chit fund and corruption cases, including jail time, had now "betrayed" the party through cross-voting.
This incident underscores the intense political maneuvering in Odisha, with both major parties taking strict disciplinary measures to maintain control and integrity within their ranks. The fallout from this Rajya Sabha election is likely to have lasting implications for party dynamics and electoral strategies in the state.
