The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday filed separate petitions seeking the disqualification of eight party MLAs who had cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election held on March 16. The opposition chief whip and BJD MLA Pramila Mallik, who signed the petitions, stated that details of the MLAs' purported anti-party activities and statements made by them in the media against the party had been submitted to the Speaker.
Grounds for Disqualification
Senior BJD MLA Arun Sahoo explained that the party had pointed out that the eight members had voluntarily given up party membership by defying party lines and making statements against the party, making them liable for disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. "They frequently spoke against the party in public and went against the party's rules and ideals," he said.
Sahoo cited precedents, including the disqualification of JD(U) MP Sharad Yadav by Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu in December 2017 on grounds of anti-party conduct and the disqualification of six Congress MLAs in Himachal Pradesh in February 2024 after they cross-voted in Rajya Sabha polls.
List of MLAs and Suspensions
Among the eight MLAs, the BJD had earlier suspended Arvind Mohapatra (Patkura) and Sanatan Mahakud (Champua) ahead of the Rajya Sabha poll. After the election, the party served show-cause notices and suspended six others: Chakramani Kanhar (Baliguda), Naba Kishore Mallick (Jayadev), Souvic Biswal (Choudwar–Cuttack), Subasini Jena (Basta), Ramakanta Bhoi (Tirtol), and Devi Ranjan Tripathy (Banki).
The regional party submitted dossiers detailing alleged anti-party activities against each of the legislators, seeking their disqualification. While seeking disqualification of Mahakud, the BJD cited how he had abstained from party activities for a long time.
Reactions
MLA Devi Ranjan Tripathy said he would respond after learning about the specific allegations made against him. "However, the party cannot seek my disqualification for voting in the RS poll for the candidate of my choice," he added.
Reacting to the BJD move, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the BJD leaders seem to be unaware of the anti-defection law. "They expect a suspended MLA to abide by the party whip. A whip cannot be issued to a suspended member," he stated.
It may be noted that due to the MLAs' cross-voting, the BJD-Congress supported independent candidate Datteswar Hota lost the election.
