The Congress party in Odisha has suspended three of its Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) for casting their votes in support of Dilip Ray, an Independent candidate backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), during the recent Rajya Sabha elections. The affected MLAs are Ramesh Chandra Jena from Sanakhemundi, Dasarathi Gomango of Mohana, and Sofia Firdous representing Barabati-Cuttack. Their votes contributed to Ray’s success in the elections held on Monday.

Party Leadership Reacts to the Betrayal

In a statement issued on social media, the Odisha Congress emphasized the seriousness of the actions taken by the three MLAs, stating, “Those who betray Congress are betraying the nation.” Arabinda Das, chairperson of the state Congress media cell, indicated that the suspensions were determined after a detailed review of the actions taken by the MLAs, which were deemed damaging to the party’s interests. Furthermore, Das noted that the party plans to inform the Speaker of the Assembly about the suspensions, initiating the process for their disqualification.

Concerns Raised by State Party President

Bhakta Charan Das, the state president of the Congress, expressed disappointment over the unexpected actions of the MLAs, stating that their betrayal was unforeseen. He asserted that the party would pursue disqualification for the MLAs under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. The national leadership of the Congress party has also been notified about these developments.

Impact of Votes on Rajya Sabha Elections

In addition to the three Congress MLAs, eight MLAs from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) also cast their votes in favor of Ray, ultimately defeating the common candidate from the opposition, Datteswar Hota. The Congress had strategically aligned with the BJD to support Hota during these elections. Arabinda Das mentioned that Gomango, who has held the position of Gajapati district president twice, had not been anticipated to act in this manner. Das also criticized Jena as a strong leader who compromised his standing, and remarked on the lost potential for Sofia Firdous in Cuttack.

Congress Takes Preventive Measures Ahead of Polling

In the lead-up to the elections, the Congress party relocated eight of its MLAs to Karnataka to prevent them from being swayed by outside influences. The voting took place for four Rajya Sabha seats, resulting in the BJP securing two, the BJD obtaining one, and the victory of Ray in the process.

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