Bhubaneswar, April 27 -- The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday moved the Odisha Assembly Speaker, urging disqualification of eight of its MLAs for alleged anti-party activities and violation of the party whip during the Rajya Sabha elections.
A delegation of BJD legislators, led by party chief whip Pramila Mallik, submitted a formal request to Speaker Surama Padhy, seeking strict action against the lawmakers.
In her letter, Mallik stated that the MLAs had defied the party directive and voted in favour of BJP-backed Independent candidate Dillip Ray, going against the BJD's official position.
The party has already suspended the eight MLAs for their actions.
Mallik asserted that their conduct amounted to a clear breach of party discipline an...