Bhubaneswar, June 22 -- The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday strongly criticised Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy's decision to reject the party's petition seeking disqualification of eight party MLAs for alleged cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha election, terming it a "complete violation" of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
The party alleged that the Speaker's decision not only weakened the authority and neutrality of the office but also undermined democratic principles and the spirit of the anti-defection law.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik and former Minister and MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo accused the Speaker of acting with a partisan approach while deciding the matter.
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