Poll-eve twist for Rajya Sabha elections

Two independent MLAs join BJD camp, Congress alleges horse-trading

The election to four Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha has taken an interesting twist with two independent MLAs joining the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) as associate members on the eve of the voting scheduled for tomorrow.

Two independent MLAs, Braja Kishore Pradhan of Talcher and Jitu Patnaik of Champua today announced their intention to support BJD-back independent RS candidate for the fourth RS seat at stake.

They made the announcement after meeting BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, first at his office and then at his residence, this morning.

"I will accept BJD chief Naveen Patnaik's decision regarding RS polls," said Jitu Patnaik. "We will work as associate members of BJD," he added.

"I welcome both Jitu Patnaik and Braja Kishore Pradhan to work for the uplift of the poor in their constituencies," said Chief Minister Patnaik after his meeting with the two MLAs.

It may be noted that both the MLAs were in the target of the government earlier. While a vigilance case has been filed against Jitu Patnaik for his involvement in mining scam, Pradhan was arrested for violence in Talcher coalfield area couple of months back.

While BJD has enough strength in the assembly (108 out of 147) to get its three candidates elected to the Upper House smoothly, it had played a political gamble by propping up an Independent candidate, renowned sculptor, Raghunath Mohapatra, for the fourth seat with assurance of its surplus votes in his favour.

Each contestant needs votes of 30 MLAs to sail through the election. After exhausting 90 votes for its party candidates, BJD has 18 surplus votes.

Mohapatra is pitted against Congress candidate Ranjib Biswal for the fourth seat. But today's development has dashed the hopes of Biswal, who required the support of the Independent MLAs to win the election.

The opposition Congress accused BJD of indulging in horse trading and filed a complaint before the Election Commission in this regard.

It pointed out that joining of Independent MLAs as associate members of BJD on the eve of polling for RS seats amounted to violation of election code of conduct.

The special observer of Election Commission, Anil Jha, who received a petition from the Congress delegation on allegation of horse trading and violation of code of conduct, said, "I am looking into the complaint".

Interestingly, independent MLA, Braja Pradhan, had assured his support for Biswal and figured as one of the proposers of his candidature before switching over allegiance today.

There are five Independent MLAs in the assembly. They included two associate members, one each of BJD and BJP.

Meanwhile, BJP, which has six MLAs in the assembly, is yet to open its cards. Though majority of its MLAs are in favour of boycotting the poll, the state unit of BJP has left the decision on the party's parliamentary board on the issue.