Odisha Speaker rejects BJD’s plea to disqualify 8 MLAs over Rajya Sabha cross voting

22 Jun 2026, 07:30 by Sunita · KalingaTV

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy rejected the petition of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) seeking the disqualification of eight of its MLAs over alleged cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections held in March this year.

According to official notification issued by the Secretariat of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on 19 June, speaker Padhy rejected the petitions filed by BJD chief whip Pramila Mallik on 25 April seeking disqualification of the eight MLAs.

The BJD had moved the Speaker, alleging that eight legislators had violated the party whip by cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha polls. The legislators named in the petition were Debi Ranjan Tripathy, Souvic Biswal, Ramakanta Bhoi, Naba Mallik, Subasini Jena, Chakramani Kanhara, Arvind Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud.

Seeking action under the anti-defection provisions, the regional party had urged the Speaker to declare the legislators disqualified from the Odisha Legislative Assembly. However, after examining the matter, Speaker Surama Padhy dismissed the petition, effectively allowing the eight MLAs to retain their membership in the House.

The Speaker’s decision comes months after the Rajya Sabha election witnessed allegations of cross-voting within the BJD ranks, triggering political debate over party discipline and loyalty among legislators.

Odisha Speaker rejects BJD’s plea to disqualify 8 MLAs over Rajya Sabha cross voting

Also Read: Health Mitra workers protest at Lower PMG against retrenchment, seek job security