​​​​​​​Bhubaneswar, October 29: The Orissa High Court on Thursday issued notices to five Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs in connection with petitions seeking their disqualification for allegedly defying the party whip and cross-voting in the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections.

Justice M.S. Sahoo directed the five legislators — Arvind Mohapatra, Sanatan Mahakud, Chakramani Kanhar, Souvic Biswal and Subasini Jena, who has already been suspended from the BJD — to file their replies by December 4. The court has scheduled the next hearing on the merits of the case for January 11, 2027.

The BJD had alleged that eight of its MLAs voted against the party's decision during the Rajya Sabha elections. Subsequently, the party approached Assembly Speaker Surama Padhi, seeking the cancellation of their membership. However, the Speaker dismissed all the disqualification petitions in June, citing procedural irregularities.

Challenging the Speaker's decision, BJD chief whip Pramila Mallik filed eight writ petitions before the High Court on behalf of the party. Five of these petitions came up for hearing on Thursday.

The BJD contended that the Speaker had dismissed its petitions without giving the party an adequate opportunity to present its case. The High Court had earlier issued a notice to the Speaker in connection with the matter.

Appearing in the case, Advocate General Pitambar Acharya submitted that the Speaker had rejected the BJD's petitions through a detailed order in June. He also pointed out that, during an earlier hearing, the petitioner had sought permission to withdraw the writ petition and approach the Speaker afresh. The request was strongly opposed on behalf of the Speaker.

Welcoming the High Court's notices, BJD vice-president and Leader of the Opposition's chief whip Pramila Mallik expressed confidence in the judicial process but criticised the Advocate General's remarks.

“We have confidence in the judicial process and the party's demand for a fair and time-bound decision,” Mallik said. She added that Acharya had made what she described as a political statement, which, according to her, was not expected from an Advocate General.

Acharya had earlier maintained that the Speaker rejected the BJD's petitions because they lacked seriousness and did not follow the proper procedure.

The controversy stems from allegations that eight BJD MLAs and three Congress MLAs cross-voted in favour of Dilip Ray, a BJP-backed Independent candidate, during the Rajya Sabha elections.