Odisha Rajya Sabha Elections: Bengaluru Bribery Scandal Erupts Amid Horse-Trading Fears
Political maneuvering ahead of Monday's Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha has escalated dramatically, with a bribery scandal unfolding in faraway Bengaluru. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced on Sunday that police have arrested four men for allegedly attempting to bribe Odisha Congress MLAs to vote in favor of the BJP. "Four men tried to influence our Odisha MLAs in a hotel by offering them Rs 5 crore each, to cross-vote. Following an FIR, all four have been arrested," Shivakumar stated to reporters.
BJP Denies Allegations as Congress Points Fingers
The BJP has swiftly dismissed the allegations. BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal countered, "Since Congress is staring at imminent defeat, they are making false allegations." However, Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das claimed the arrested individuals were linked to the BJP. "The BJP has endorsed horse-trading and attempted to poach our MLAs," he alleged, intensifying the political feud.
In a preemptive move, eight of the 14 Congress legislators were relocated to a Bengaluru resort on Thursday to shield them from potential inducements. This underscores the high-stakes nature of the contest, where five candidates are vying for four Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha.
Key Candidates and Electoral Dynamics
- BJP: Has fielded state president Manmohan Samal and re-nominated outgoing Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar, while backing independent candidate Dilip Ray for a third seat.
- BJD: Nominated Santrupt Misra and is supporting independent candidate Dr Datteswar Hota, who also has backing from the Congress and CPM.
With numbers favoring them, BJP's Samal and Kumar are expected to secure easy victories, as is Misra from the BJD. The real battle centers on the fourth seat, where Hota and Ray are locked in a tight contest, amid widespread fears of cross-voting and horse-trading.
Vote Calculations and Party Strategies
The BJP commands 82 votes, comprising 79 MLAs and three independents, providing a solid base for their candidates. The BJD, with 48 MLAs, is assured of Misra's victory, requiring only 30 first-preference votes. Hota's prospects hinge critically on the support of 14 Congress MLAs, one CPM legislator, and the remaining BJD MLAs—contingent on no defections occurring.
Disciplinary Actions and MLA Absences
Signs of internal unease emerged on Sunday as both the BJD and Congress issued show-cause notices to three MLAs for unexplained absences from Bhubaneswar. Despite party whips directing legislators to remain in the capital until polling concludes on Monday, the following MLAs were noted missing:
- Chakramani Kanhar (BJD)
- Naba Kishor Mallick (BJD)
- Dasarathi Gomango (Congress)
Das expressed concern over Gomango's disappearance, stating, "Our MLA Gomango has been incommunicado since March 7. He will face action if he defies the party line. We expect all our MLAs to back Dr Hota." The BJD's notice to Kanhar and Mallick demanded their presence at Naveen Niwas by 9 pm on Sunday, highlighting the parties' efforts to maintain discipline in this volatile electoral climate.
As Odisha braces for Monday's polling, the Bengaluru arrests have injected fresh controversy into an already tense Rajya Sabha election, with allegations of bribery and horse-trading threatening to overshadow the democratic process.
