Samata Kranti Dal (SKD), which had taken up alleged bribery in biennial election to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha in 2010, has warned that this year’s Rajya Sabha election also presents similar circumstances for ‘horse trading’.
Addressing a press conference, SKD leader and former Union steel minister Braja Kishore Tripathy said, “ruling Biju Janata Dal had muddled the Rajya Sabha elections by extending support to independent candidate Raghunath Mohapatra without consulting opposition parties. BJD fully knows that it lacks requisite numbers to ensure victory the independent candidate.”
“The Naveen Patnaik government had scuttled the 2010 Rajya Sabha bribery probe. The Congress, which was hand in gloves with the ruling party, ordered CBI probe into Rajya Sabha horse-trading in Jharkhand, but restrained itself from ordering similar probe in Odisha,” Mr. Tripathy alleged. The State government dropped the probe without putting much effort in the investigation, he said.
“During the current Rajya Sabha election, if BJD-supported independent candidate goes on to win the election, it will be a clear case of horse-trading. BJD will be left with 18 voters after ensuring victory of its three candidates. After support of two independent candidates, it still has to reach magic figure of 30,” the SKD leader said.
Addressing the press conference, George Tirkey, who holds key in the Rajya Sabha election as an independent candidate, said he is undecided over his next course of action.
“Everybody knows I strongly oppose BJD and at the same time I am not fond of Congress. I am also uncertain whether I would cast my vote or abstain from voting. All depends on the executive committee meeting of SKD which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday,”said George Tirkey.
