Odisha Assembly Issues Notices to 4 MLAs Over Disqualification For Defection

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly has taken a significant step by issuing disqualification notices to four Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who recently resigned from the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

The notices were served to Samir Ranjan Dash, Simarani Nayak, Ramesh Candra Sai, and Parshuram Dhada, instructing them to justify why they should not face disqualification.

The Assembly secretary issued these notices following a petition filed by government chief whip Prasanta Kumar Muduli, who sought action under the anti-defection law. The deadline for the MLAs to respond is May 27.

Samir Dash represents Nimapara, Nayak hails from Hindol, Sai from Athmallik, and Dhada from Soro. They resigned from BJD after being denied party tickets for the ongoing elections and some have aligned with the BJP, contesting under its banner.

Earlier, Speaker Pramila Mallik had already disqualified Arabinda Dhali and Premananda Nayak. These two MLAs had also joined the BJP after leaving the ruling BJD, falling afoul of the anti-defection law.