Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik to face trust vote

Bhubaneswar, Mar 11 (ANI): Under pressure to prove his government's majority in the State Assembly after breaking-off with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Naveen Patnaik and his Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will face a trust vote today.

A special one-day session of the State Assembly has been summoned, where Patnaik would require at least 74 votes to prove his majority in the 147-member House.

Meanwhile, the BJP insisted that its members will vote against the Government.

"We have issued a whip to members asking them to vote against the government," BJP legislature party leader BB Harichandan told reporters here after a legislature party meeting.

Patnaik, however, has claimed that he will get some BJP MLAs onboard to vote for him.

Three BJP MLAs have already defied their party whip and decided to vote for the Patnaik Government

According to sources, the BJD is also trying to arrange for cross voting from the Congress and the BJP in case Independents abstain. (ANI)