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BJD Issues Whip to MLAs, Congress MLAs in Bengaluru Ahead of Rajya Sabha Polls

The Biju Janata Dal has issued a three-line whip, directing all its MLAs to attend crucial party meetings in Bhubaneswar ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. Meanwhile, six Odisha Congress MLAs have been moved to a private resort in Bengaluru, reportedly under the watch of a Karnataka minister, to prevent potential cross-voting. In a significant political development, the Congress, BJD, and CPI(M) have united to support a joint independent candidate, Datteshwar Hota, for one of the vacant seats. The BJD and BJP have also announced their respective candidates for the polls, which will fill 37 Rajya Sabha seats across ten states on March 16.

Key Points: BJD Whip to MLAs, Congress MLAs in Resort Ahead of RS Polls

  • BJD issues whip for mandatory MLA meetings
  • Congress MLAs in Bengaluru resort amid cross-voting fears
  • Joint candidate Datteshwar Hota backed by Congress, BJD, CPI(M)
  • BJD fields Santrupt Misra, BJP nominates two
  • Rajya Sabha polls for 37 seats across 10 states on March 16
3 min read

BJD issues whip to party MLAs ahead of Rajya Sabha elections

BJD issues three-line whip to MLAs for meetings as Congress MLAs stay in a Bengaluru resort ahead of the crucial Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha.

"Naveen Patnaik was very clear on this matter. Given Odisha's situation, he has taken a revolutionary step. - Bhakta Charan Das"

Bhubaneshwar, March 13

Biju Janata Dal President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, on Thursday, issued a three-line whip to all party MLAs, directing them to remain in attend party meetings in Bhubaneswar for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

Legislators have been asked to ensure their mandatory presence at Naveen Nivas for the presentation and training programme on March 13 and 14, scheduled from 5.30 PM to 7.30 PM.

Additionally, all BJD legislators must attend a legislative party meeting at Naveen Nivas on March 15. This meeting serves as a preparation ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections on Monday.

Earlier, six Odisha Congress MLAs, including chief whip CS Raazen Ekka, reached Bengaluru on Thursday night.

The Congress MLAs are reportedly staying in a private resort in South Bengaluru district, under the watch of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, amid the speculations of cross-voting in the upcoming polls.

The six Congress MLAs, including Ashok Kumar Das, Prafulla Chandra Pradhan, Pabitra Saunta, Kadraka Appala Swamy, CS Raazen Ekka and Satyajeet Gomango, are staying in the resort with their families. A total of 14 people arrived from Odisha.

While Congress has not announced a candidate in Odisha, the party, along with Biju Janata Dal and Communist Party of India (Marxist), has decided to support a joint candidate, Datteshwar Hota.

Four Upper House seats will fall vacant in April and undergo polling in Odisha.Earlier on March 5, Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das said the decision to back Datteshwar Hota was taken considering his work and his non-partisan background.

"Congress, BJD and CPI(M) have all decided to support the joint candidate Datteshwar Hota. Considering his work, we decided that he is a good person. He doesn't belong to any party, so all the like-minded parties can support him," Das said.

He also said that Naveen Patnaik was clear about the decision and called it a significant step in the current political situation of Odisha."Naveen Patnaik was very clear on this matter. Given Odisha's situation, he has taken a revolutionary step," he added.

Meanwhile, the BJD has announced Santrupt Misra as its candidate, and the BJP has nominated Odisha party chief Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The polling for the biennial elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to fill the 37 seats across 10 states is scheduled to take place on March 16, with the counting of votes on the same day at 5 pm.

The term of 37 members who were elected from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana will conclude in the month of April, vacating the seats for new members to be elected.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Issuing a three-line whip shows how serious Naveen Patnaik is about party discipline. But it also highlights the fear of cross-voting, just like Congress MLAs being taken to a resort in Bengaluru. The resort politics is becoming a national trend now!
R
Rohit P
All this drama for Rajya Sabha elections... training programmes, whips, resort stays. Feels like taxpayer money and MLA time could be better spent on actual governance in Odisha. Just my two paise.
S
Sarah B
The strategic alliance between BJD, Congress, and CPI(M) against BJP's candidates is a fascinating shift in Odisha's politics. Naveen Patnaik calling it a "revolutionary step" is quite a statement. Will be watching the results closely.
V
Vikram M
Congress MLAs staying at a resort "under watch" in Karnataka says everything about the trust deficit within the party. If you have to guard your own MLAs, what message does that send to the public? Very disappointing.
K
Kavya N
Good to see parties supporting a non-partisan candidate based on his work. We need more of this in Indian politics – looking beyond party lines for capable people. Hope Hota ji delivers for Odisha in the Rajya Sabha. 🙏

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