The Congress has taken measures to prevent cross-voting in the upcoming Odisha Rajya Sabha elections by sequestering nine of its legislators in a resort in Karnataka. Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has started a three-day bootcamp at party chief Naveen Patnaik's residence to reinforce coordination within the legislature party and prevent any possibility of cross-voting.
The Congress, which has 14 MLAs in the Odisha assembly, sent nine of its MLAs to a resort just outside Bengaluru on Thursday night. The MLAs were briefed on the preferential ballot system used in Rajya Sabha elections and were trained on the step-by-step procedures adopted for the election.
The BJD, with 48 MLAs after the suspension of two legislators, is assured of one seat but has fielded two nominees: veteran leader Santrupt Misra and eminent urologist Dr Datteswar Hota, the latter positioned as a "common candidate" jointly backed by the BJD, the Congress, and the CPI(M) to contest the fourth seat.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with around 82 votes including its 79 MLAs and the support of three Independent MLAs, is comfortably placed to win two seats, but its push for a third through former union minister and hotelier Dilip Ray will require additional support or cross-voting from opposition ranks.
