TNI Bureau: Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy has rejected disqualification petitions against 8 BJD and 3 Congress MLAs accused of cross-voting during the March 2026 Rajya Sabha election, giving major relief to the rebel legislators.

The petitions, filed under the anti-defection law, alleged that the MLAs had violated party directives and supported BJP-backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray.

The eight BJD MLAs are Chakramani Kanhar, Naba Kishore Mallick, Souvic Biswal, Subasini Jena, Ramakanta Bhoi, Devi Ranjan Tripathy, Arvind Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud. The three Congress MLAs are Sofia Firdous, Ramesh Chandra Jena and Dasarathi Gomango.

With the Speaker dismissing the petitions, the MLAs retain their Assembly membership, dealing a setback to both BJD and Congress, which had sought action against the alleged rebels.