Bhubaneswar, 27 April (H.S.): The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has stepped up action against eight of its legislators, seeking their disqualification from the Odisha Assembly over alleged anti-party activities and defiance of the party whip.

Senior party leader and Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik said she has written to the Speaker, urging strict action against the MLAs. She alleged that the legislators acted against the party’s interests and no longer deserve to continue as its members. Mallik added that they should either resign voluntarily or face disqualification.

She also challenged the MLAs to prove their public support by contesting by-elections.

Supporting the move, BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo said party legislators met the Speaker and formally pressed for disqualification. He alleged that the eight MLAs not only defied the party whip but also distanced themselves from the party’s leadership.

Sahoo stated that the party consulted legal and constitutional experts before making the demand. Based on these consultations, the BJD believes that legislators who act against party directives and constitutional norms are liable for disqualification. He further claimed that the MLAs voted for another candidate during the Rajya Sabha elections despite clear instructions from the party.

According to party sources, a whip had been issued two days before the election, directing MLAs to remain present at the party headquarters and attend the official meeting, which the accused legislators allegedly ignored.

Citing precedents, Sahoo referred to the disqualification of Sharad Yadav from the Rajya Sabha in 2017 and similar actions taken against MLAs in Himachal Pradesh. He argued that publicly opposing party leadership amounts to voluntarily giving up party membership.

The party has invoked provisions under Article 191 of the Constitution of India read with the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which deal with disqualification on grounds of defection.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda