BJD cross-voting case: Orissa High Court seeks five MLAs' replies

The BJD cross-voting case moved forward on Thursday when the Orissa High Court sought responses from five legislators to petitions challenging the rejection of disqualification proceedings. The matter concerns the March 16 Rajya Sabha election.

Justice M.S. Sahoo asked Arvind Mohapatra, Sanatan Mahakud, Chakramani Kanhar, Souvic Biswal and Subasini Jena to respond by December 4. The next hearing is scheduled for January 11, 2027.

The Biju Janata Dal had approached the Odisha Assembly Speaker seeking the disqualification of eight MLAs. It alleged that they voted against the party's decision in the election.

Challenge to Speaker's June decision

The party says its legislators supported Dilip Ray, an independent backed by the BJP, instead of the joint BJD-Congress nominee Datteswar Hota. Ray and Hota each secured 23 first-preference votes, with Ray winning after second-preference votes were counted.

Speaker Surama Padhi rejected the eight disqualification petitions in June on procedural grounds. BJD chief whip Pramila Mallik then filed eight writ petitions in the High Court contesting that decision.

Five of those petitions were considered on Thursday in the BJD cross-voting case. The party argued that it had not received an adequate opportunity to present its position before the Speaker dismissed its requests.

Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, representing the Speaker, said the June rejection was explained in a detailed order. He also said the Speaker's side had opposed an earlier request to withdraw the court petition and return to the Speaker.

Mallik welcomed the notices and expressed confidence in the judicial process. She also criticised remarks Acharya had made about the alleged cross-voting.

The High Court's notices require the five legislators to place their responses before it. The reported proceedings concern the party's challenge to the Speaker's order; they do not amount to a final judicial finding on the allegations.

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