Bhubaneswar: In a major disciplinary move, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has suspended six of its MLAs for defying the party whip and engaging in cross-voting during the recently concluded Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha.
The decision was finalized following a high-level meeting of the BJD’s Political Affairs Committee held on Wednesday evening. The announcement was officially made to the media by the Leader of the Opposition, Pramila Mallik.
The six MLAs facing suspension are:
- Chakramani Kanhar (Baliguda)
- Nabakishore Mallick (Jayadev, Bhubaneswar)
- Souvic Biswal (Cuttack-Choudwar)
- Subasini Jena (Basta)
- Ramakant Bhoi (Tirtol)
- Devi Ranjan Tripathy (Banki)
The controversy stems from the Rajya Sabha elections held on March 16 for four vacant seats in the state. Despite the party’s clear instructions, these six legislators allegedly voted for the BJP-supported candidate, Dilip Ray, instead of the candidates backed by their own party or its allies.
Following the reports of betrayal, the BJD leadership initiated disciplinary proceedings. The party had initially issued “show-cause” notices to the six MLAs, demanding an explanation for their actions by 5:00 PM on March 20. The notices highlighted that their actions constituted a grave violation of party discipline and a breach of the official whip. Finding their conduct inexcusable, the party leadership proceeded with the suspension today.
The Rajya Sabha elections saw a high-stakes battle where all 147 members of the Odisha Legislative Assembly participated. The results led to a significant shift in expectations:
- Winners: Manmohan Samal and Sujit Kumar from the BJP emerged victorious. Dilip Ray, the BJP-supported candidate who benefited from the cross-voting, also secured a win.
- BJD’s Performance: Only one BJD candidate, Santrupt Misra, managed to win a seat.
- The Loser: Datteshwar Hota, the candidate supported by the Congress, faced defeat.
Reports suggest that the cross-voting by a total of 11 MLAs (including those from BJD and Congress) was the primary reason for Datteshwar Hota’s loss and Dilip Ray’s successful entry into the Upper House.
By taking this stern action, the BJD has sent a clear message that any form of anti-party activity or violation of the party line will not be tolerated.
