Bhubaneswar, March 14: With the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha scheduled for March 16, political tensions in Odisha have escalated amid fears of cross-voting.
Naveen Patnaik, president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, on Saturday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting horse-trading to secure additional seats in the Upper House.
Patnaik described horse-trading as “illegal and unethical,” alleging that the BJP is trying to influence legislators ahead of the crucial vote.
According to the BJD chief, such practices could undermine democratic principles and compromise the integrity of the electoral process if elected representatives are swayed during the polling.
The contest for the fourth Rajya Sabha seat in Odisha is expected to be closely fought, adding to concerns about possible cross-voting.
Patnaik warned that attempts to manipulate the outcome through inducements or pressure on MLAs would be “criminal” and detrimental to the democratic framework.
In the upcoming polls, the BJP is backing independent candidate Dilip Ray, while Datteswar Hota is contesting as a common nominee supported by both the BJD and the Indian National Congress.
Political observers note that the allegations have revived memories of the 2002 Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha, when a similar controversy over cross-voting and horse-trading dominated the political narrative in the state. During that election, Dilip Ray won the fourth Rajya Sabha seat as an independent candidate. The voting was conducted through secret ballot, and several BJD legislators were believed to have cross-voted in his favour.
Responding sharply to the allegations of BJD president Patnaik, senior BJP leader and Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra accused the former chief minister of frequently alleging horse-trading without evidence, claiming that Patnaik himself had experience with such tactics during his tenure in power.
“Everything appears yellow to a jaundice patient, and similarly Naveen Patnaik sees horse-trading everywhere,” Mishra remarked, asserting that the BJP is not engaging in any such activities.
He added that if votes come in the party’s favour, it will accept them, and argued that Patnaik’s accusations indicate that the BJD leader has “admitted defeat even before the results are declared.”
With the polling date approaching, the allegations and counter-allegations have intensified the political atmosphere in Odisha, making the Rajya Sabha elections a closely watched contest in the state’s political landscape.
