Orissa High Court Issues Notices to Five BJD MLAs in Cross-Voting Case

The Orissa High Court has issued notices to five Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs over alleged cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha elections. The legislators are Arvind Mohapatra, Subasini Jena, Sanatan Mahakud, Souvic Biswal and Chakramani Kanhar.

The court has directed the MLAs to submit their replies by December 4, with the next hearing scheduled for January 11.

The case began after the BJD sought disqualification of the legislators for allegedly voting against the party’s official position. The Odisha Assembly Speaker dismissed the petition in June, following which the party approached the High Court through five separate writ petitions.

Advocate General Pitambar Acharya confirmed that the notices were issued after the hearing. Other MLAs allegedly involved in the controversy have not received notices in this round.