The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has formally issued a notice to two of its suspended Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), Sanatan Mahakud and Arabinda Mohapatra. The notice instructs them to cast their votes in support of the party’s designated candidate in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Both MLAs were elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly as representatives of the BJD but have been suspended due to allegations of anti-party activities. The party has clarified that suspension does not exempt them from their duties as elected members who carry the party symbol.

Whip and Constitutional Obligations

The notice outlines that the party’s whip mandates all members to vote in favor of the specified candidate. The BJD has also cautioned that voting against this directive, or abstaining without appropriate prior approval, could lead to actions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. This may include disqualification on grounds of voluntarily abandoning party membership.

Concerns Raised by BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik

In a related development, Biju Janata Dal leader Naveen Patnaik held a meeting with party associates in Bhubaneswar to address strategies for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections. During the meeting, Patnaik expressed concerns regarding purported horse trading connected to the elections. He commented on the efforts of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its three Rajya Sabha candidates, accusing them of attempting to manipulate the democratic process. Patnaik stated, “Our party MLAs and all of us have just had a meeting with the concerned officers about the process of the elections for the upcoming Rajya Sabha. The BJP and their three candidates are all trying their best to engage in horse trading, which is an offense to win this democratic election.”

Three-Line Whip Issued to BJD MLAs

Prior to this notice, Patnaik had issued a three-line whip to all party MLAs, instructing them to maintain attendance at party meetings in Bhubaneswar in preparation for the Rajya Sabha elections. This directive emphasizes the party’s commitment to ensuring a unified front during the electoral process.

Scheduled Polling for Rajya Sabha Elections

The biennial elections for the Rajya Sabha, which will see the election of new members to fill 37 vacant seats across ten states, are set to take place on March 16. The counting of votes will also occur on the same day at 5 PM. The current term of the 37 members who were elected from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana will conclude in April, paving the way for new elections.

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