Odisha Congress Suspends 3 Party MLAs For Cross-Voting In Rajya Sabha Polls, Seeks Disqualification From Assembly

Bhubaneswar: The Opposition Congress in Odisha on Tuesday suspended three of its MLAs for "anti-party activities" after they allegedly voted for BJP-backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray, helping him win the Rajya Sabha polls on Monday.

As per an official release of the Pradesh Congress Committee in Odisha, those suspended include Ramesh Chandra Jena of Sanakhemundi, Dasarathi Gomango of Mohana and Sofia Firdous of Barabati-Cuttack. They voted for Ray during the Rajya Sabha elections on Monday, party sources said.

"It is for the information of all concerned that Ramesh Jena, MLA, Dasarathi Gamango, MLA and Sofia Firdous, MLA, have been suspended from the party with immediate effect because of their anti-party activities such as defying the party whip and voting in favour of the BJP-sponsored candidate in the ensuing Rajya Sabha Election," PCC said in a statement.

"It is treated as gross violation of party discipline and causing damage to the interest of the party," the statement added.

Announcing their suspension, the state Congress in a social media post said, "Those who betray Congress are betraying the nation."

State Congress media cell chairperson Arabinda Das said the decision was taken after careful review of their actions, which were deemed detrimental to the party's interests.

He said the party's action will be intimated to the speaker for their disqualification from the assembly. State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said, "This act of betrayal was unexpected from these MLAs. We will ensure that they are disqualified from the assembly under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution." He said the party's national leadership has been apprised of the decision.

Apart from the three Congress MLAs, eight BJD MLAs had also voted in favour of Ray, leading to the defeat of the opposition "common candidate" Datteswar Hota. Congress had decided to back BJD candidate Hota in a strategic understanding.

On Gomango's cross-voting, the Congress media cell chief said, "Gomango was the party's Gajapati district president twice. The party did not expect this from him. Jena was a strong leader, but he destroyed himself. Sofia Firdous had a very bright future. She has ended her chances of winning in Cuttack. We will go ahead with the disqualification process," he said.

Ahead of the polling, the Congress had moved eight of its MLAs to Karnataka to "shield them from inducements". Elections were held for four Rajya Sabha seats in the state. BJP bagged two of them, the BJD secured one, besides Ray's victory.

Meanwhile, Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, in a letter to Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy, sought the disqualification of the three MLAs. Stating that they had cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls, he said it was a clear violation of the party whip and amounted to defection.

"Their conduct has not only undermined party discipline but also goes against the democratic mandate under which they were elected," he said in the letter.

"I hereby petition before the speaker to kindly take cognisance of the matter and initiate appropriate proceedings for disqualification...," he added.

In another letter, Kadam also urged the speaker to change the seating arrangement of the three MLAs.

"In view of their suspension from the party, the trio no longer remains part of the CLP (Congress legislature party) in the House. Therefore, it is requested that necessary steps may kindly be taken to change their seating arrangement in the Assembly, in accordance with established rules, conventions, and the present status of the said members," he said.

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