The Congress party in Odisha has suspended three of its MLAs — Ramesh Chandra Jena, Dasarathi Gomango, and Sofia Firdous — for voting in favour of BJP-backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray in the Rajya Sabha elections. The party described their action as a “betrayal” and has initiated steps to seek their disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
According to the party, the three legislators cast their votes for Ray during the Rajya Sabha polls held on Monday, going against the party’s official stand. Congress had extended support to BJD candidate Datteswar Hota as part of a strategic understanding, making the cross-voting a significant setback for the opposition.
In a statement posted on social media, the Odisha Congress said that those who betray the party are betraying the nation. Party leaders stated that the decision to suspend the MLAs was taken after a detailed review of their conduct, which was found to be detrimental to the party’s interests.
State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das termed the incident unexpected and said the party would take strict action. He confirmed that the matter would be taken up with the Speaker to initiate disqualification proceedings under the anti-defection law. The party has also informed its central leadership about the development.
Congress media cell chairperson Arabinda Das said the party would formally approach the Speaker for the disqualification of the three MLAs. He also expressed disappointment over their actions, noting that some of them held important positions within the party and were considered strong leaders with promising political futures.
The outcome of the Rajya Sabha election was significantly influenced by cross-voting. In addition to the three Congress MLAs, eight legislators from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) also reportedly voted in favour of Dilip Ray. This helped Ray secure victory and led to the defeat of the opposition-backed candidate Datteswar Hota.
Ahead of the elections, the Congress had moved eight of its MLAs to Karnataka in an attempt to prevent possible cross-voting or inducements. Despite these measures, the defection during voting affected the party’s strategy.
In total, elections were held for four Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha. The BJP won two seats, the BJD secured one, and Dilip Ray emerged victorious as an Independent candidate backed by the BJP. The Congress has now initiated disciplinary and legal action against the MLAs involved, marking a sharp escalation in the political fallout from the episode.
