Cross-Voting Sparks Political Storm in Odisha Rajya Sabha Election
Bhubaneswar: The Rajya Sabha election in Odisha has erupted into controversy after allegations of cross-voting by legislators from both the Congress and BJD.
Three Congress MLAs — Dasarathi Gomango, Sofia Firdous, and Ramesh Jena — reportedly defied the party line, prompting Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das to confirm the breach and escalate the matter to the AICC.
He expressed disappointment, calling the act a betrayal of party discipline.
Meanwhile, suspicions of cross-voting also surfaced within the ruling BJD. Legislators Soubhik Biswal and Chakramani Kahnar, along with suspended members Sana Mohanty and Arvind Mohapatra, are believed to have voted against the party’s candidate.
Senior BJD leader Pratap Keshari Deb raised objections about the voting process, adding fuel to the political fire.
The silence of Sofia Firdous after casting her vote further intensified speculation, with media waiting outside the Assembly left without answers.
Cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections is considered a serious breach of party loyalty, often leading to disciplinary action.
The incident has now triggered a storm in Odisha politics, with both Congress and BJD leaderships weighing their next steps.
