Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly Speaker disqualified two MLAs Arabinda Dhali and Premananda Nayak as per the provision under paragraph 6(1) of the 10th Schedule to the Constitution of India. Dhali and Nayak have recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after resigning from the Biju Janata Dal ahead of the General Elections 2024.
The Odisha Legislative Assembly issued a notification on the disqualification of two members on Wednesday.
The Odisha Assembly Speaker Pramila Mallick’s decision came after the Government Chief Whip MLA Prasanta Kumar Muduli filed a petition on March 18 under Rule 6 of the Members of Odisha Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1978 framed under paragraph 8 of the 10th Schedule to the Indian Constitution.
Muduli sought disqualification of two members as they voluntarily gave up primary membership from the BJD in which they were elected to the Assembly.
The Odisha Assembly also issued a notice to Dhali and Nayak for individual hearings, but both neither responded to the petition nor appeared before the Speaker for the hearing. That’s why these members were disqualified with immediate effect.
With the move, the seats of two in Odisha Legislative Assembly will fall vacant.
