Show-Cause Notices Under Anti-Defection Law Served to 4 BJD MLAs

Bhubaneswar:  Four MLAs who had won as members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have been served show-cause notices under the anti-defection law.

These four MLAs, Samir Dash (Nimapara MLA), Simarani Nayak (Hindol MLA),  Ramesh Chandra Sai (Athamallik MLA) and Parshuram Dhada (Soro MLA), recently quit the BJD to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Based on a petition filed by the government chief whip Prasanta Muduli, the Odisha Assembly secretary issued notices to these four MLAs.

The notices sought explanation from the MLAs regarding their defection from the BJD.

All these four MLAs left the BJD when they were denied party tickets to contest the polls.

Samir Dash has been appointed as the state BJP spokesperson.

Simarani Nayak and Parsuram Dhada are BJP candidates from the Hindol and Soro Assembly seats, respectively.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Odisha Assembly disqualified Arabinda Dhali and Premananda Nayak under the anti-defection law, after they joined the BJP leaving the BJD.