US EditionOn Rajya Sabha cross-voting, Congress thrashes Muslims as ‘shameless, sold to BJP’. Know who is Sofia Firdous who ‘betrayed’ party in Odisha
- On Tuesday, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee suspended Congress MLAs Ramesh Jena, Dasarathi Gomango, and Sofia Firdous for cross-voting during Monday's Rajya Sabha elections.
- Defying party whips, 11 Opposition MLAs including the three Congress members voted for Independent candidate Dilip Ray despite instructions to support the common candidate.
- Ray secured 23 first-preference votes, tying with Congress-BJD candidate Datteswar Hota before winning the seat after the second-preference count.
- OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das indicated the party is considering approaching the Speaker to seek the MLAs' disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of horse-trading, stating, "They have collected a number of persons who voted for them.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Congress suspends 3 Odisha MLAs for cross-voting in RS polls, seeks disqualification from assembly
Bhubaneswar, Mar 17 (PTI) The opposition Congress in Odisha on Tuesday suspended three of its MLAs for voting for BJP-backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray, helping him win the Rajya Sabha polls, according to a party statement. These MLAs are Ramesh Chandra Jena of Sanakhemundi, Dasarathi Gomango of Mohana and Sofia Firdous of Barabati-Cuttack. They voted […]
Congress suspends 3 Odisha MLAs for voting for BJP-backed Rajya Sabha candidate
The Odisha Congress suspended three MLAs - Ramesh Chandra Jena, Dasarathi Gomango, and Sofia Firdous - for voting BJP-backed Independent Dilip Ray in Rajya Sabha polls. The party termed it “betrayal” and will seek their disqualification under the Tenth Schedule.
Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: Odisha Congress Suspends MLAs Ramesh Jena, Sofia Firdous, Dasarathi Gomango for Cross-Voting in Favor of BJP-Backed Dilip Ray | 🗳️ LatestLY
The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Tuesday suspended three of its legislators who had reportedly voted in favour of a BJP-backed Independent candidate, Dilip Ray, defying the party’s whip in the Rajya Sabha polling. 🗳️ Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: Odisha Congress Suspends MLAs Ramesh Jena, Sofia Firdous, Dasarathi Gomango for Cross-Voting in Favor of BJP-Backed Dilip Ray.
Congress suspends three Odisha MLAs over cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections
Odisha Congress has suspended three MLAs for voting for a BJP-backed Independent candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections. The party stated these MLAs betrayed Congress and the nation. The suspended MLAs are Ramesh Chandra Jena, Dasarathi Gomango, and Sofia Firdous. Their disqualification from the assembly is being pursued. This action follows a strategic understanding where Congress supported a BJD candidate.
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