The political landscape in Odisha has intensified as the Orissa High Court has officially issued notices to five Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs in connection with the high-profile Rajya Sabha cross-voting controversy.
The legal development has shifted the internal political friction into a full-fledged courtroom battle.
The five legislators who have received notices from the High Court are Arvind Mohapatra, Subasini Jena, Sanatan Mahakud, Souvic Biswal, and Chakramani Kanhar. According to the court’s directives, these MLAs are required to file their formal replies by December 4, with the next comprehensive hearing scheduled for January 11.
Background of the Legal Battle
The controversy stems from cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha elections, where several BJD legislators allegedly voted against the party’s official stance. Following the incident, the BJD moved the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly seeking the disqualification of the members involved in cross-voting. However, in June, the Assembly Speaker dismissed the petition, prompting the regional party to knock on the doors of the High Court through five separate writ petitions.
Advocate General Pitambar Acharya noted that the court’s notices were issued following today’s hearing on these five separate writs, while other MLAs allegedly involved in the cross-voting have not been included in the current round of notices.
With the legal machinery now actively involved, the cross-voting issue has reignited intense political debates across the state, putting the future of the implicated lawmakers under intense scrutiny as they prepare their defences for the upcoming December deadline.
