Under mounting pressure from the Opposition, Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday referred the alleged “horse-trading” in the last year’s Rajya Sabha elections to the Election Commission of India.
Two of the ministerial colleagues of Mr Patnaik face the allegation of resorting to “illegal practices” to ensure victory of the ruling BJD candidate Baishnab Parida who was short of two votes.
After a recent audio tape expose, the ruling BJD has been at the receiving end with the Opposition Congress and BJP demanding a CBI probe into the matter.
In the audio CD, names of two ministers — Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Puspendra Singhdeo — are being prominently heard as the “brokers” who “trapped” the Congress MLA Shivaji Majhi by promising him “hefty money”.
“On the basis of home and law departments’ suggestion, we have referred the matter to the Election Commission of India,” chief minister Mr Patnaik said.
Earlier, the CM had directed the home department to probe into the matter which the Opposition had dubbed as a move to give clean-chit to horse-traders.
Congress MLA Shivaji Majhi mysteriously disappeared on the day of Rs. polls in June last year. His absence helped the BJD’s third candidate win the polls. State BJP president Jual Oram said his party will go to the high court seeking a CBI probe into such a deliberate blunder.
“It’s like holding democracy into ransom. We will go to the Orissa high court praying for a CBI probe,” Mr Oram said.