Congress suspends 3 Odisha MLAs for cross-voting in RS polls, seeks disqualification from assembly
Bhubaneswar (PTI): The opposition Congress in Odisha on Tuesday suspended three of its MLAs for voting for BJP-backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray, helping him win the Rajya Sabha polls, according to a party statement.
These MLAs are Ramesh Chandra Jena of Sanakhemundi, Dasarathi Gomango of Mohana and Sofia Firdous of Barabati-Cuttack.
They voted for Ray during the Rajya Sabha elections on Monday, according to the party.
Announcing their suspension, the state Congress in a social media post said, "Those who betray Congress are betraying the nation."
State Congress media cell chairperson Arabinda Das said the decision was taken after careful review of their actions, which were deemed detrimental to the party's interests.
He said the party's action will be intimated to the speaker for their disqualification from the assembly.
State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said, "This act of betrayal was unexpected from these MLAs. We will ensure that they are disqualified from the assembly under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution."
He said the party's national leadership has been apprised of the decision.
Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, in a letter to Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy, sought the disqualification of the three MLAs.
Stating that they had cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls, he said it was a clear violation of the party whip and amounted to defection.
"Their conduct has not only undermined party discipline but also goes against the democratic mandate under which they were elected," he said in the letter.
"I hereby petition before the speaker to kindly take cognisance of the matter and initiate appropriate proceedings for disqualification...," he added.
In another letter, Kadam also urged the speaker to change the seating arrangement of the three MLAs.
"In view of their suspension from the party, the trio no longer remains part of the CLP (Congress legislature party) in the House. Therefore, it is requested that necessary steps may kindly be taken to change their seating arrangement in the Assembly, in accordance with established rules, conventions, and the present status of the said members," he said.
Apart from the three Congress MLAs, eight BJD MLAs had also voted in favour of Ray, leading to the defeat of the opposition "common candidate" Datteswar Hota.
Congress had decided to back BJD candidate Hota in a strategic understanding.
The Congress media cell chairperson said Gomango was the party's Gajapati district president twice.
"The party did not expect this from him. Jena was a strong leader, but he destroyed himself. Sofia Firdous had a very bright future. She has ended her chances of winning in Cuttack. We will go ahead with the disqualification process," he said.
Ahead of the polling, the Congress had moved eight of its MLAs to Karnataka to "shield them from inducements".
Elections were held for four Rajya Sabha seats in the state. BJP bagged two of them, the BJD secured one, besides Ray's victory.
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UP: Gunmen open fire at patient inside Aligarh hospital, flee; victim critical
Aligarh (UP) (PTI): Two armed assailants allegedly walked into a hospital here and fired at a man who was undergoing treatment at the facility, injuring him severely, a senior police official said on Tuesday.
Aligarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun told reporters that the victim has been identified as Vedpal (32), a resident of a village in Khair police station area. He was rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital following the incident, and his condition remains critical.
One person has been arrested in this connection, while hunt is on to nab the two shooters, he added.
Citing information provided by Vedpal's family, the SSP said Vedpal had developed relationship with a girl from Mathura and was planning to marry her soon. However, the girl's family -- including her father, who is a police constable -- opposed this proposal and arranged her marriage elsewhere last month.
Despite this, Vedpal continued attempting to contact the girl. He even went to meet her family last month, where he was severely beaten up and warned with dire consequences if he kept pursuing the matter.
According to the family, Vedpal was admitted to a local hospital two days ago to undergo surgery for the injuries sustained during the earlier beating.
The SSP said based on CCTV footage, police have identified the attackers; one of them is the girl's brother, also a police constable posted in a neighbouring district.
He said the details of the incident have been forwarded to the police headquarters to facilitate departmental action against the police personnel involved in the crime.
The girl's father -- a police constable posted in Baghpat district -- has been arrested in the cae, while the police are searching for the two armed assailants.
