India, June 22 -- Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy has rejected disqualification petitions filed by both the Congress and the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) against a total of 11 MLAs accused of cross-voting and anti-party activities.

The Congress had sought the disqualification of three of its legislators-Sofia Firdous (Barabati-Cuttack), Ramesh Chandra Jena (Sanakhemundi) and Dasarathi Gamango (Mohana)-for allegedly cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha elections held in March this year.

Similarly, the BJD had moved the Speaker seeking action against eight of its MLAs, alleging that they defied the party whip and voted in favour of BJP-backed Independent Rajya Sabha candidate Dilip Ray during the polls.

The eight BJD legislators...