Odisha Speaker Rejects BJD’s Plea to Disqualify Eight MLAs Over Rajya Sabha Cross-Voting

Bhubaneswar: In a significant political development, Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy has dismissed a petition filed by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) seeking the disqualification of eight party legislators accused of defying the party line during the Rajya Sabha elections held earlier this year.

The opposition BJD had approached the Speaker alleging that the legislators voted against the party’s directive and supported BJP-backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray in the March Rajya Sabha polls. The party claimed that the alleged cross-voting amounted to a violation of party discipline and warranted action under the anti-defection provisions.

Following the Rajya Sabha election, the BJD suspended the concerned legislators, accusing them of engaging in anti-party activities. In April, a delegation led by Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallick met the Speaker and formally submitted a petition seeking their disqualification from the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Among those named in the petition were six MLAs who were specifically suspended for allegedly cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha election. They include Chakramani Kanhar of Baliguda, Naba Kishore Mallick of Jayadev, Souvic Biswal of Choudwar-Cuttack, Subasini Jena of Basta, Ramakanta Bhoi of Tirtol, and Devi Ranjan Tripathy of Banki.

The remaining two legislators—Arvind Mohapatra of Patkura and Sanatan Mahakud of Champua—had earlier faced suspension from the party over alleged anti-party activities.

With the Speaker rejecting the petition, all eight legislators will continue as members of the Odisha Assembly. The decision is expected to have political ramifications within the opposition BJD, which has been grappling with internal dissent following its defeat in the 2024 Assembly elections.