Row over second ballot to BJP MLA

Bhubaneswar: A row broke out during the Rajya Sabha polls on Monday after BJP’s Brahmagiri MLA Upasana Mohapatra was allegedly allowed to cast a second ballot — a move BJD president Naveen Patnaik called “illegal”, even as the BJP dismissed the charge.

Upasana reportedly sought a fresh ballot after overwriting on her first one, claiming the pen did not work properly. The request triggered heated arguments between BJD and BJP representatives before polling officials permitted her to vote again.

Naveen told reporters that the Brahmagiri MLA had “clearly made a mistake” while voting, and alleged that the presiding officer “illegally accepted” her vote and issued a second ballot paper. “This is totally against democratic norms and a violation of election rules. We strongly object to it, but they are not listening, thereby destroying the democratic process,” he said. BJP MLA Saroj Padhi countered that there was “no illegality at all,” as the poll officials only followed rules.

Odisha witnessed a voting for Rajya Sabha seats for the first time since 2014 while there was unanimous choices of candidates after that. In 2014, Congress nominee Ranjib Biswal defeated BJD-backed Independent Raghunath Mohapatra, who was also supported by the BJP.

Meanwhile, many BJD MLAs who voted against party lines on Monday openly slammed the party leadership after the results. Choudwar–Cuttack MLA Souvic Biswal said he had simply “done the duty of a son”, recalling how his father, former MLA Pravat Biswal, was “insulted” by the party. “I am even ready to die for my father,” he said, adding he voted for the one who has the blessings of Biju Babu. Pravat Biswal was recently expelled from BJD after questioning the party’s choice of Rajya Sabha candidates.

Banki MLA Debi Ranjan Tripathy also admitted to cross-voting and hit out at the alleged BJD–Congress understanding for the Rajya Sabha election. He described Dilip Ray as the “true representative of Biju legacy” and referred to his own long association with Biju Patnaik.

BJD president Naveen Patnaik slammed BJP and its allies for horse-trading pointing out that he had spoken in the last few days about the BJP and their allies’ horse-trading attempt. Pratap Keshari Deb, Aul MLA and BJD’s authorised agent for the RS elections, said eight BJD legislators cross-voted. They include suspended MLAs Aravind Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud, as well as Chakramani Kanhar, Subasini Jena, Naba Kishore Mallick, Ramakanta Bhoi, besides Souvic Biswal and Debi Ranjan Tripathy.