Bhubaneswar: The Congress submitted a notice for no-confidence motion against the 15-month-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha on Thursday.
A senior Congress leader said that the notice was submitted to the Speaker through the Assembly Secretary.
The proposal was reportedly signed by 15 legislators, 14 from the Congress and one from the Communist Party of India (Marxist). CPI(M) MLA Laxman Munda has reportedly extended his support to the no-trust motion.
The notice for the motion, invoking Rule 117(1) of the Assembly procedures. reads: “That this House expresses no confidence in the present Council of Ministers led by Shri Mohan Charan Majhi.”
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Ramchandra Kadam has accused the BJP government of having failed to ensure the safety and security of women, maintain law and order, protect farmers’ interests. The Congress leaders alleged that the government has also failed to safeguard the interests of dalits, tribals and OBCs. Therefore, the party decided to bring no-trust motion against the government headed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Congress legislators said.
After submitting the no-confidence motion notice, Congress has started lobbying for support from the main opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
CLP leader Rama Chandra Kadam, along with senior MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, visited the office of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) to discuss the issue and seek the support of the BJD.
Bahinipati stated that the party has formally approached BJD for support. He said the CLP met BJD’s Pratap Keshari Deb to request cooperation from the regional party.
The BJD is slated to hold an internal meeting to deliberate on the matter. “They will discuss and announce their decision after the meeting,” he said.
Notably, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das had earlier urged the BJD to move a no-confidence motion against the BJP government during the Monsoon Session.