BJD President Naveen Patnaik accused the BJP on Saturday of engaging in “horse trading” ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha, asserting that such practice constitutes an “offence” against the democratic process.
His remarks come amid heightened concerns regarding potential cross-voting during the biennial polls, where five candidates are currently vying for four seats in the state.
Senior BJP MLA and former minister Jaynarayan Mishra dismissed Patnaik’s allegations, asserting that no such “horse trading” was taking place within the ruling party.
The BJP has fielded two official candidates – state unit president Manmohan Samal and sitting MP Sujeet Kumar. Additionally, former Union minister Dilip Ray is contesting as an Independent with the support of the saffron party.
The BJD’s nominees are party leader Santrupt Misra and renowned urologist Dr. Datteswar Hota, both of whom have secured the backing of the Congress and the CPI(M).
With neither the ruling BJP nor the opposition BJD holding the necessary numbers to guarantee a win for the fourth seat, the possibility of cross-voting remains high.
Speaking after participating in a mock-poll session at the Odisha Assembly, Patnaik stated, “The BJP leaders and their three Rajya Sabha candidates are trying their best to trade horses, which is an offence to win this democratic election.”
BJP legislator Mishra argued that the BJD chief’s allegations were an admission of defeat before the polls even began.
Mishra also stated, “A man who suffers from jaundice sees everything yellow. We are not indulging in horse trading, and we have called upon MLAs to vote as per their conscience.”
He claimed that some MLAs prefer the BJP as they anticipate “no future in the BJD”.
“The BJD is sinking, and several of its leaders prefer the BJP. The BJD exists on the wishes of the BJP central leadership,” he claimed.
BJD MLA Byomakesh Ray, who defeated the BJP state president in the last assembly elections, claimed that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is personally involved in “horse trading” for soliciting deals from legislators.
“It is unfortunate that the chief minister himself is involved in the horse trading. He (CM) urged MLAs to make a deal. As a chief minister, he should refrain from horse trading,” Ray, a three-time legislator from Chandabali in Bhadrak district, told reporters on the assembly premises.
This March 16 vote marks the first contested Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha in 12 years, as this time, by five candidates are in the fray for the four seats that will become vacant on April 2.
