Bhubaneswar: Naveen Patnaik, former Odisha Chief Minister and president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has raised concerns over alleged attempts at “horse-trading” ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for Monday in Odisha, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to influence legislators.
Reacting to the political developments, Patnaik said he firmly believes in democracy but felt “scared” that democratic principles could be undermined if elected representatives were influenced during the electoral process.
The BJD chief alleged that despite lacking the required numbers in the Assembly, the BJP had fielded a fifth candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls while confidently claiming victory, raising questions about the integrity of the election process.
Patnaik urged the media and the public to remain vigilant and closely monitor the activities of leaders and members of the ruling party. He stressed that strict scrutiny was necessary to safeguard democratic norms and ensure that elected representatives cast their votes in accordance with the Constitution and the guidelines set by the Election Commission of India.
Amid concerns over possible cross-voting, the Indian National Congress has reportedly moved some of its legislators to Karnataka, where the party is in power, in an apparent effort to keep them together ahead of the election.
Echoing similar concerns, senior BJD leader Dibya Shankar Mishra called for greater transparency in the election process. He alleged that attempts were being made to encourage horse-trading among legislators and warned that such practices could weaken democratic institutions.
Mishra appealed to the media and the public to keep a close watch on the activities of BJP leaders in connection with the Rajya Sabha election from Odisha. “Protect democracy and ensure that no horse trading takes place so that the election process is conducted according to the norms of the Constitution and the rules set by the Election Commission,” he said, adding that every elected representative should exercise their franchise independently and in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Responding to Patnaik’s remarks, senior BJP leader and Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra dismissed the allegations. He said that Patnaik himself had experience with horse-trading during his tenure as Chief Minister.
“Just as everything appears yellow to a jaundice patient, he sees horse trading everywhere. We are not doing horse trading. If they are giving us votes, we are taking them,” Mishra said. He added that by making such comments, Patnaik had effectively admitted defeat even before the results were declared, asserting that the BJP was only seeking “conscience-based votes” from legislators.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Barabati-Cuttack Sofia Firdous publicly expressed dissatisfaction with her party’s leadership over its handling of the Rajya Sabha election.
Firdous said there had been no discussion with party MLAs before selecting the candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat. She also criticised the decision to support the BJD candidate, questioning why the leadership had taken the step without consulting legislators.
“There was no discussion with us regarding the candidate selection or the decision to support the BJD nominee,” she said, adding that she was not even called for the campaign during the Nuapada by-election.
However, Firdous did not clarify her stand on whether she would vote for the Congress candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections.
With allegations and counter-allegations intensifying among major political parties, the political atmosphere in Odisha has sharpened ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls, as opposition leaders question the conduct of the ruling party and the fairness of the electoral process.
