Bhubaneswar, Mar 17 (PTI) The opposition Congress in Odisha on Tuesday suspended three of its MLAs for voting for BJP-backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray, helping him win the Rajya Sabha polls, according to a party statement.
These MLAs are 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, according to the party.
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.
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.
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.
The Congress media cell chairperson 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. PTI AAM AAM SOM
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