Big upset in Odisha Rajya Sabha elections, rebellion in BJD and Congress, cross voting

Bhubaneswar: There has been a big upheaval during voting for Rajya Sabha in Odisha. There is news of rebellion among the MLAs of both Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal and Congress. According to the news of OTV News, about 10 opposition MLAs did ‘cross voting’ in the Odisha Rajya Sabha elections. According to reports, 5 MLAs of Biju Janata Dal and three of Congress cross-voted in favor of Rajya Sabha candidate Dilip Rai.

News of cross voting of these MLAs

According to reports, Congress’s Dashrathi Gomango, Sophia Firdous, Ramesh Chandra Jena; BJD’s Chakramani Kanhar, Devi Ranjan Tripathi, Subhashini Jena, Souvik Biswal, Naba Mullick; And suspended BJD MLAs Naba Kishore Mallik, Sanatan Mahakud, Arabinda Mohapatra, all of them voted against the joint BJD-Congress candidate and in favor of BJP-backed businessman Dilip Rai.

Political turmoil intensifies in Odisha

There was a political stir in Odisha on Monday after allegations of cross-voting during the recent elections surfaced, with leaders openly expressing dissatisfaction against the party’s decisions. The controversy deepened when BJD MLA Devi Tripathi admitted to voting against the party line and supporting some other candidate.

I voted for Dilip Rai-Devi Tripathi

Speaking to the media, Devi Tripathi admitted that she had voted for senior leader Dilip Rai. Explaining his decision, the MLA said his vote was motivated by his desire to maintain the legacy of Biju Patnaik. Tripathi also expressed strong displeasure over what he described as an ‘immoral alliance’, and questioned the alleged understanding between the Biju Janata Dal and the Indian National Congress.

Naveen Patnaik expressed dissatisfaction

On the other hand, Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik strongly criticized the voting process in the ongoing Rajya Sabha elections in the state. He claimed that election rules were violated when a second ballot paper was issued to an MLA. Patnaik said the polling officer acted against the rules when an MLA from Brahmagiri assembly constituency made a mistake while casting her vote and was provided a second ballot paper. He said, “The MLA of Brahmagiri had clearly committed a mistake while casting her vote. But the officer sitting in the voting room, who was responsible for this work, accepted her vote illegally and issued her a second ballot paper. This is completely against the democratic norms and is a violation of the electoral rules.

Conscience forced to take a different stance

Devi Tripathi said that she was asked to support Datteshwar Hota during voting. However, he questioned why he should vote for what he described as a candidate from the ‘wrong alliance’, and insisted that his conscience forced him to take a different stance. The controversy deepened when another leader, Souvik Biswal, also admitted to cross-voting. Biswal said that he voted for the person who, in his words, had ‘Biju Babu’s blessings’. He also raised questions on the internal workings of the party and asked why he was not expelled when his father was earlier expelled from the party.

What did Bhakta Charan Das say on cross voting by Congress MLAs?

On the other hand, on the news of cross voting of three Congress MLAs, Odisha State Congress President Bhakta Charan Das said, “First is Ramesh Jena, second is Ramesh Jena, about whom I had told all the things in the press conference, third is Sophia daughter. I was thinking that Sophia is very scholar and will look after her future, meanwhile she made many statements, which I ignored. She was asked for conditions, we also told her that.” She has been removed from the limelight. She has a good future for the party. I spoke to her twice this morning. Yes, she came and went too, but the vote she showed me… in such a beautiful way, even like this… I was feeling that she would not vote!

Bhakta Charan Das further said, ‘We did not take these people to Bengaluru because the Legislative Assembly session was going on. Our senior leader Taraprasad Bahinipati also did not go. People who speak in the Legislative Assembly are vocal people, Sophia was also vocal, Tara Babu is also a senior leader, her health is also bad, we did not want to spoil her health by taking her. Ramesh Jena also told us yes. Aaka came to my house and said yes in front of the media. I didn’t believe all the people who told me that Ramesh Jena could do this. The responsibility of the Congress Party in Ganjam was completely destroyed by them.”

5 candidates for 4 seats in Odisha

A total of five candidates are in the fray for four Rajya Sabha seats from the state. BJP has fielded Manmohan Samal and Sujit Kumar as candidates. Satrat Mishra is contesting from BJD. Whereas independent candidate Dilip Rai has got the support of BJP. On the other hand, Dr. Datteshwar Hota is the joint candidate of BJD and Congress, who is also supported by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

As per election rules, it is mandatory for MLAs to show their marked ballot paper to their party agent after casting their vote, otherwise their vote may become invalid. On behalf of BJP, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singhdev and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan have been made agents. BJD’s agent is Pratap Keshari Dev, while Congress’ agent is being handled by Bhakta Charan Das. Overall, allegations of cross voting and controversies during voting have made the Rajya Sabha elections of Odisha extremely interesting and tense. Now all eyes are on the election results and further political strategies.

Shubham Kumar’s report from Odisha

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