The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has issued show-cause notices to six of its legislators for voting in favor of a BJP-backed independent candidate during the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha. The MLAs include Chakramani Kanhar, Naba Kishore Mallick, Souvic Biswal, Subasini Jena, Dr. Ramakanta Bhoi, and Devi Ranjan Tripathy. BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik stated that their actions were a serious breach of party discipline.
Mallik emphasized that the legislators went against the party’s directions and decisions made in a BJD Legislature Party meeting. She highlighted that their actions violated the core principles of the BJD Constitution, which require absolute loyalty to the party’s collective decisions. The legislators’ voting behavior was deemed as gross indiscipline and a betrayal of the party’s trust.
The notice served to the MLAs called for them to explain within three days why disciplinary action should not be taken against them, including possible suspension from the Biju Janata Dal. Failure to provide a satisfactory explanation could lead to further actions by the party. The cross-voting by several legislators during the Rajya Sabha elections resulted in the victory of the BJP-backed candidate Dilip Ray.
