BJD Suspends Six MLAs for Cross-Voting in Rajya Sabha Polls
BHUBANESWAR: In a significant political development, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday suspended six of its MLAs for cross-voting during the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections, as reported by Ashok Pradhan. This disciplinary action comes after eight MLAs from the regional party, led by former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, defied the party whip, highlighting internal dissent within the ranks.
Background and Previous Suspensions
The BJD had already suspended two other MLAs in January for anti-party activities, setting a precedent for strict enforcement of party discipline. The recent suspensions bring the total number of penalized MLAs to eight, underscoring the party's zero-tolerance approach towards violations of its core principles.
Official Statement and Disqualification Threat
BJD chief whip Pramila Mallik announced that the party would recommend the disqualification of the six suspended MLAs. According to Mallik, the decision was made after reviewing their responses to a showcause notice issued on March 17. A BJD statement elaborated, "The MLAs were suspended for involvement in anti-party activities, including cross-voting in the recent election to Rajya Sabha, violating the core principle of the BJD constitution, which mandates absolute loyalty to the party’s collective decisions."
Impact on Rajya Sabha Election
The cross-voting incident had a direct impact on the Rajya Sabha polls. Eleven MLAs, comprising eight from BJD and three from Congress, engaged in cross-voting, which led to the defeat of Datteswar Hota, a candidate backed by both parties. Instead, former Union minister Dilip Ray emerged victorious as an independent, supported by the BJP and the cross-votes from these 11 MLAs. In response, Congress had already suspended its three MLAs and sought their disqualification.
Suspended MLAs and Their Reactions
The six MLAs suspended by BJD are Chakramani Kanhar, Naba Kishore Mallick, Souvic Biswal, Subasini Jena, Ramakanta Bhoi, and Devi Ranjan Tripathy. They join Arvind Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud, who were suspended earlier in January. MLA Ramakanta Bhoi criticized the action, stating, "For the Rajya Sabha election, the party can’t issue a whip." All six suspended MLAs have collectively denounced the suspension as illegal, arbitrary, and an abuse of legal processes. They have threatened to take legal action against BJD chief whip Pramila Mallik for issuing the showcause notice.
Broader Implications and Legal Standoff
This episode not only exposes the fissures within BJD but also sets the stage for a potential legal confrontation. The MLAs' defiance and subsequent suspensions could influence future party dynamics and electoral strategies in Odisha. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the disqualification recommendations will be handled by the relevant authorities and whether the MLAs' legal threats will materialize into court cases.
