Bhubaneswar: The Indian National Congress on Monday approached Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy, seeking the disqualification of MLA Ramesh Jena and formally submitting an application in this regard.
A delegation of senior state Congress leaders, including Rama Chandra Kadam, Bhakta Das and CS Razen Ekka, met the Speaker and handed over a memorandum pressing for Jena’s disqualification from the Assembly.
In a parallel move, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader also wrote to the Speaker, urging action against the suspended party MLA.
Party sources said similar petitions had earlier been submitted seeking the disqualification of MLAs Sofia Firdous and Dasarathi Gomango, indicating a broader push by the party amid recent political developments in the state.
These Congress MLAs had indulged in cross voting during the recent Rajya Sabha polls despite a party whip.
However, sources pointed out that in Rajya Sabha elections, party whips are not considered binding, allowing MLAs to vote according to their preference — a factor that could influence the outcome of the disqualification plea.
The matter now rests with the Speaker, who is expected to examine the application and the surrounding circumstances before taking a decision.
Congress leaders said they would await the Speaker’s ruling on the issue.
