Speaker junks disqualification plea against 11 MLAs for RS cross-voting

Bhubaneswar: Citing procedural lapses, assembly speaker Surama Padhy dismissed petitions seeking disqualification of 11 MLAs — eight from BJD and three from Congress — over alleged cross-voting in the March 16 Rajya Sabha polls.BJP-supported Dilip Ray defeated independent candidate, urologist Dr Datteswar Hota, despite backing from BJD and Congress and having numbers in the latter’s favour.Explaining her decision, Padhy said the petitions failed to comply with prescribed rules. “On scrutiny, we found violations of disqualification Rule 6, sub-rules 6 and 7. The applications were incomplete,” the speaker said.She added that not all pages of the petitions were verified and affidavits were not attached as mandated under the rules.

“That is why the applications were rejected,” Padhy said.Observing that both BJD and Congress are experienced parties, the speaker lamented that due procedure was not followed. “We have acted strictly as per rules,” she added.BJD chief whip Pramila Mallik had sought disqualification of suspended MLAs Arvind Mohapatra, Sanatan Mahakud, Chakramani Kanhar, Devi Ranjan Tripathy, Naba Kishor Mallick, Souvic Biswal, Subasini Jena and Ramakant Bhoi.

Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam had moved similar petitions against Sofia Firdus, Ramesh Chandra Jena and Dasarathi Gamango.In a June 19 notification, the assembly secretariat had termed the BJD petitions “cryptic, vague, unsubstantiated" and not meeting statutory requirements for consideration on merits.“Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the allegations,” the speaker said, each petition was dismissed under Rule 7(2) of the Members of Odisha Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1987.Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said the party will move court, alleging that “fairness could not be expected from the speaker, who belongs to the ruling BJP that benefited from the cross-voting.” BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo said his party would also take appropriate action.Countering them, revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said, “Parties must clearly understand where a party whip applies and where the anti-defection law comes into play.”