Speaker Rejects BJD’s Plea Against Cross‑Voting MLAs
Bhubaneswar, June 22: In a significant development, Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy has rejected the Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) petition seeking disqualification of eight legislators accused of cross‑voting during the March Rajya Sabha elections.
The BJD alleged that the MLAs defied the party whip and supported BJP‑backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray.
Six of them — Chakramani Kanhar (Baliguda), Naba Kishore Mallick (Jayadev), Souvic Biswal (Choudwar‑Cuttack), Subasini Jena (Basta), Ramakanta Bhoi (Tirtol), and Devi Ranjan Tripathy (Banki) — were suspended for cross‑voting.
Two others, Arvind Mohapatra (Patkura) and Sanatan Mahakud (Champua), had earlier faced suspension for anti‑party activities.
In April, Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallick formally submitted the disqualification plea under the anti‑defection law.
The Speaker’s ruling is seen as a setback for the BJD, which sought strict disciplinary action to reinforce party unity.
