BJP Targets Congress MLAs Over Alleged Media Leak of No-Confidence Motion

In a dramatic turn of events inside the Odisha Assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has filed privilege motion notices against five Congress legislators, accusing them of breaching parliamentary protocol by leaking details of a no-confidence motion to the media before its formal submission.

The notices, moved by senior BJP MLA Padmalochan Panda, target Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ramchandra Kadam, along with MLAs Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Sofia Firdous, Ashok Kumar Das, and Dr. C.S. Rajan Ekka.

The controversy erupted during an afternoon session already marked by protests from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy confirmed the inquiry into the allegations and pledged to update the House with her findings. BJP leaders argue that the premature disclosure undermines parliamentary decorum and could amount to contempt of the House.

This incident adds fuel to the already simmering political tensions in Odisha, as parties clash over transparency, procedure, and accountability within the legislative framework.