In a dramatic fallout from the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha, the Congress on Tuesday expelled three of its MLAs for cross-voting in favor of candidates backed by the BJP, a move that significantly altered the outcome in the eastern state. The disciplinary action underscores the party’s tough stance against dissent and defiance of its official line.
The leaders facing action are Ramesh Jena, MLA from Sana Khemundi; Sofia Firdous, representing Barabati-Cuttack; and Dasarath Gamango, MLA from Mohana. While the Congress’s official post on X described the action as “expulsion,” an Odia notice referred to it as “suspension,” though both indicate stringent punitive measures.
In a strongly worded statement, the party’s Odisha unit declared that the MLAs were expelled for defying the party whip and voting for a BJP-supported candidate. “Those who betray Congress are betraying the nation,” the party asserted, reflecting its anger over the breach of discipline.
The controversy stems from Monday’s Rajya Sabha polls, where the BJP-led NDA gained a clear advantage across 10 states, aided in part by cross-voting from opposition legislators. In Odisha, the Congress’s setback became particularly pronounced, as its internal dissent contributed to the BJP’s sweeping success.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee chief Bhakta Charan Das had already indicated after the results that the three MLAs had voted in favor of BJP-backed candidates. Tuesday’s action formalized the party’s response.
Notably, first-time MLA Sofia Firdous had publicly voiced her disagreement with the party’s strategy ahead of the vote. She criticized the Congress leadership for backing a candidate from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) without consulting its legislators. Firdous argued that the BJD has historically functioned as a “B-team” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), citing instances where it supported the BJP on key national issues.
The Rajya Sabha contest in Odisha saw four seats up for grabs. The BJP fielded two official candidates—state unit president Manmohan Samal and former BJD leader Sujeet Kumar—both of whom secured comfortable victories due to the party’s numerical strength in the 147-member विधानसभा. With 79 MLAs and the backing of three Independents, the BJP effectively commanded 82 votes.
The BJD, with 50 MLAs (48 effective due to suspensions), managed to get its candidate Dr. Santrupt Mishra elected. However, the battle for the fourth seat proved decisive.
In a closely watched contest, BJP-backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray emerged victorious against Datteswar Hota, a joint candidate of the BJD supported by the Congress. The unexpected cross-voting by Congress MLAs tipped the scales in Ray’s favor, sealing the BJP’s sweep.
The episode carries a sense of déjà vu in Odisha’s political history. Back in 2002, Dilip Ray had won a Rajya Sabha seat as an Independent against the then-ruling BJD, securing votes from 14 of its MLAs. More than two decades later, he repeated that feat—this time benefiting from divisions within the Congress.
The incident not only highlights the fragile unity within opposition ranks but also reinforces the BJP’s growing dominance in regional political equations. For the Congress, the expulsions signal an attempt to reassert discipline, though the political damage in Odisha may already have been done.
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