Bhubaneswar, March 15: Amid rising political tensions and allegations of horse-trading ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, the Odisha Congress on Sunday issued a show-cause notice to Mohana MLA Dasarathi Gomango for alleged indiscipline after he reportedly remained unreachable for several days.

The notice was issued by Sujit Kumar Padhi, chairman of the Odisha Pradesh Congress disciplinary action committee. In the notice, the party stated that all Congress MLAs had been directed to stay in Bhubaneswar from March 13 in view of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16.

According to the party, Bhakta Charan Das, president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), Ajay Kumar Lallu, AICC Odisha in-charge, and Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam made several attempts to contact Gomango by phone. However, they were unable to reach him since March 8. He was also reportedly absent from both his residence in Bhubaneswar and his native village.

The disciplinary committee said that Gomango’s sudden disappearance at a crucial political moment was sending the wrong message to the public. It added that Congress, along with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), is supporting Independent candidate Datteshwar Hota in the Rajya Sabha polls.

“Regular media reports about your disappearance are creating unnecessary doubts among the people of the state,” the committee noted.

The party also pointed out that there has been no report from Gomango’s family members or associates suggesting that he had been abducted. This has led the leadership to believe that he may have deliberately gone into hiding.

In the notice, Gomango has been directed to appear at the party office by 6 pm on Sunday (March 15) and explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. The party warned that if he fails to appear within the stipulated time or does not provide a satisfactory written explanation, appropriate disciplinary action will follow.

Meanwhile, the Odisha Congress has moved eight of its MLAs to Bengaluru amid fears of possible horse-trading ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls. OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das and several senior party leaders are also currently in Bengaluru.