The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Odisha has moved two petitions against three suspended MLAs, urging the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly to take immediate action.
CLP leader Rama Chandra Kadam submitted the first petition requesting a change in seating arrangement for Dasarathi Gomango, Sofia Firdous, and Ramesh Jena. He stated that the legislators, suspended from the Congress Party for cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha elections on March 16, no longer remain part of the CLP. Kadam argued that their seating must reflect their current status to maintain order and proper party alignment in the House.
In a second petition, Kadam sought the disqualification of the same members under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the Anti-Defection Law. He alleged that their cross-voting violated the party whip and amounted to defection. He enclosed documents and evidence, including the whip and voting details, to support the petition.
Kadam emphasised that the conduct of the three MLAs undermined party discipline and betrayed the democratic mandate under which they were elected. He urged the Speaker to initiate proceedings for their disqualification without delay.
