The Odisha Congress on Tuesday suspended three of its MLAs for backing BJP-supported Independent candidate Dilip Ray, a move that secured his victory in the Rajya Sabha polls, according to a party statement.
The suspended legislators include Ramesh Chandra Jena (Sanakhemundi), Dasarathi Gomango (Mohana), and Sofia Firdous (Barabati-Cuttack). The MLAs went against the party whip and supported Dilip Ray, leading to the defeat of Dr Datteshwar Hota, the common candidate fielded by the opposition Congress and Biju Janata Dal.
The party confirmed that these members cast their votes for Ray during Monday’s Rajya Sabha elections.
In a social media post announcing the suspensions, the state Congress said, “Those who betray Congress are betraying the nation.”
Arabinda Das, the State Congress media cell chairperson, stated that the decision followed a careful review of actions deemed harmful to the party’s interests.
He added that the Speaker will be formally notified of the party’s action to initiate their disqualification from the Assembly.
State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said, “This act of betrayal was unexpected from these MLAs. We will ensure that they are disqualified from the assembly under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.”
He said the party’s national leadership has been apprised of the decision.
The fallout extends beyond Congress; eight BJD MLAs also voted for Ray, resulting in the defeat of the opposition’s “common candidate,” Datteswar Hota.
The Congress had previously entered a strategic agreement to support Hota, who was the BJD candidate.
Highlighting the gravity of the move, the media cell chairperson noted that Gomango had served twice as the party’s Gajapati district president. “The party did not expect this from him. Jena was a strong leader, but he destroyed himself. Sofia Firdous had a very bright future. She has ended her chances of winning in Cuttack. We will go ahead with the disqualification process,” he said.
Prior to the polls, the Congress had even relocated eight of its MLAs to Karnataka in an attempt to protect them from potential inducements.
Of the four Rajya Sabha seats contested in the state, the BJP secured two, the BJD won one, and Dilip Ray claimed the final seat.
