Odisha Assembly Issues Disqualification Notices To 4 MLAs Who Quit BJD

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Assembly has issued notices to four MLAs, who recently resigned from the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), to explain as to why they should not be disqualified as legislators on the grounds of defection.

Sources said the four MLAs are Samir Ranjan Dash, Simarani Nayak, Ramesh Candra Sai and Parshuram Dhada. They have been asked to furnish reply by May 27.

The notices were issued by the Assembly secretary on the direction of the Speaker following a petition filed by government chief whip Prasanta Kumar Muduli seeking action under the anti-defection law.

While Samir Dash represents Nimapara Assembly constituency, Nayak is MLA from Hindol, Sai from Athmallik and Dhada from Soro. The legislators recently resigned from BJD following denial of party ticket for the ongoing elections. Some of them are contesting elections as BJP candidates after joining the saffron party.

Earlier, Speaker Pramila Mallik had disqualified Arabinda Dhali and Premananda Nayak, who had joined BJP after quitting the ruling BJD, as members of the Odisha Assembly under anti-defection law.