Bengaluru bribery claim heats up Odisha Rajya Sabha poll contest | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Political manoeuvring ahead of Monday’s Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha reached a flashpoint in faraway Bengaluru with police arresting four men for allegedly trying to bribe Odisha Congress MLAs to vote in favour of BJP, Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar said on Sunday, a charge denied by the BJP.“Four men tried to influence our Odisha MLAs in a hotel by offering them Rs 5 crore each, to cross-vote. Following an FIR, all four have been arrested,” Shivakumar told reporters.Dismissing the allegation, BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal said, “Since Congress is staring at imminent defeat, they are making false allegations.” Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das claimed the arrested men were linked to the BJP. “The BJP has endorsed horse-trading and attempted to poach our MLAs,” he alleged.Eight of the 14 Congress legislators have been moved to a Bengaluru resort on Thursday to prevent possible inducements in the high-stakes contest. Five candidates are in fray for four Rajya Sabha seats in Odisha. BJP has fielded state president Manmohan Samal and re-nominated outgoing Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar besides backing independent Dilip Ray for the third seat. BJD has nominated Santrupt Misra while the party is supporting independent candidate Dr Datteswar Hota, who is being backed by Congress and CPM.With numbers stacked in their favour, BJP’s Samal and Kumar are expected to sail through, as does Misra of BJD. The real battle is for the fourth seat, where Hota and Ray are locked in a tight contest amid fears of cross-voting and allegations of horse-trading. The BJP commands 82 votes, including 79 MLAs and three independents. BJD, with 48 MLAs, are assured of Misra’s victory with 30 first-preference votes. Hota’s prospects hinge on the support of 14 Congress MLAs, one CPM legislator and the rest of the BJD MLAs — provided there is no defection.Signs of unease surfaced on Sunday as both BJD and Congress issued show-cause notices to three MLAs — Chakramani Kanhar and Naba Kishor Mallick of BJD, and Dasarathi Gomango of Congress — for their unexplained absence from Bhubaneswar despite party whips directing legislators to remain in the capital till Monday’s polling got over.“Our MLA Gomango has been incommunicado since March 7. He will face action if he defies the party line. We expect all our MLAs to back Dr Hota,” Das said.The BJD’s notice to Kanhar and Mallick read, “Despite a whip mandating your presence, your attendance has been lacking. You are directed to report to Naveen Niwas by 9 pm on Sunday.”
