Bhubaneswar: BJD president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik on Monday issued a strong condemnation following reports that several party MLAs had defied the official whip to back BJP-supported independent candidate Dilip Ray in the closely contested Rajya Sabha election from Odisha.
“I had spoken to many of you in the last few days about the BJP and their allies and the kind of horse-trading they may attempt. They have gathered a number of people who voted for them. Most of those who cross-voted have criminal pasts. You can check how many of their parents went to jail,” he told reporters.
According to sources, Chakramani Kanhar (Baliguda), Souvic Biswal (Choudwar-Cuttack), Devi Ranjan Tripathy (Banki), Subasini Jena (Basta) and Ramakant Bhoi (Tirtol) have defied the party whip. Suspended MLAs—Sanatan Mahakud (Chapua) and Arabinda Mahapatra (Patkura)— have also cross voted.
Besides these seven BJD MLAs, three from Congress – Dasarathi Gomango (Mohana), Sofia Firdous (Barabati-Cuttack) and Ramesh Jena (Sanakhemundi)- have reportedly cast their vote for Ray.
Earlier in the day, the LoP had raised serious objections after BJP MLA from Brahmagiri, Upasana Mohapatra, was allowed a second ballot paper. She reportedly erred while marking her ballot paper, leading to overwriting. When she asked for another ballot, agents from the BJD and Congress immediately objected and contested the request. “The presiding officer in the voting room illegally accepted her vote and issued a second ballot paper. This is completely against democratic norms and a violation of election rules. We strongly object to this,” he alleged.
Naveen Patnaik also expressed concern over the law-and-order situation in Odisha.
“You must have heard about a poor girl, who was raped and later died by suicide. I feel very sad that Odisha, our beautiful state, is having these problems. The BJD has fought earlier and will continue to fight for democratic rights and economic development of our beloved state,” he added.
