State to file FIR against culprits in RS poll horse trading

After facing a barrage of criticism over the issue of alleged horse trading in the last Rajya Sabha polls, the Orissa government has finally decided to file an FIR against the culprits.

“We have received the letter of the Election Commission of India. There is also an enclosure, CD and letter of former Union minister Braja Tripathy. The state government will act according to the directions of the Election Commission. The Election Commission has asked us to file an FIR in the matter relating to horse trading and we will be doing the same”, said state Chief Secretary B K Patnaik.

The state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, however, denied receipt of any letter from the Election Commission.

“I have not received any such letter from the Election Commission. If the Chief Secretary has received any such letter, I'm sure he will take appropriate steps on the matter”, the Chief Minister said in response to a query by mediapersons.

Earlier, the matter relating to horse trading in the Rajya Sabha elections was referred to the Election Commission by the state government after being examined by the state law and home departments.

In the wake of mounting pressure from the Opposition parties, the state Chief Minister had asked the home department to probe into the matter thoroughly. Two ministers of the state government were allegedly involved in horse trading.

The Opposition Congress had suspended Shibaji Majhi about four months back in connection with horse trading. Moreover, the party had demanded a CBI probe into the matter and resignation of the Chief Minister as well as the two ministers allegedly involved in the deal.

Last year, the BJP had suspended Bhimsen Choudhury after the horse trading issue had surfaced.The BJD had won all the three Rajya Sabha seats after two Congress MLAs- Shibaji Majhi and Gregory Minz and BJP's Bhimsen Choudhury had abstained from voting.