Orissa: Cong MLA suspended for horse-trading in RS elections

Bhubaneshwar, Jun 15: Orissa has received a strong political blow with the exposure of two audio tapes during last year's Rajya Sabha elections.

A copy that is presently with CNN-IBN reveals how two ministers and one senior MP of the ruling Biju Janta Dal (BJD) bribed an Opposition Congress MLA Shivaji Majhi. Lanjigarh MLA Shibaji Majhi was among the three MLAs, two others being Congress' Gregory Minz and Bhimsen Choudhury of BJP, who did not vote in the RS polls.

The recordings in the tape showed BJD minister Pushpendra Singh Deo hauling up plans of asking Majhi to refrain from voting. Deo also allegedly said that Majhi would sit with BJD MP Pyari Babu or energy minister Atanu to negotiate on the deal.

The party took up immediate action within a week of release of the audio tape. But, the party could not take action against Minz who too abstained from voting in the RS polls. But Majhi, defending himself said that he could not vote in the RS polls due to illness.

The Congress has suspended Shivaji Majhi from the party and Pushpendra Singh has alleged it as a conspiracy against him. "This is a political conspiracy to defame me. I have no involvement, the tape is fake and I am ready for any enquiry," Pushpendra Singh said.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that he would look into the matter.

OneIndia News