Odisha Congress has suspended three of its MLAs for voting in favor of BJP-backed independent candidate Dilip Rai and helping him win the Rajya Sabha elections. Congress MLA Sophia Firdous is also included in this. This information has been given by issuing a statement from the party. The social media post said, ‘Sophia Firdous had a very bright future, now her chances of winning from Cuttack are over.’
In fact, apart from three Congress MLAs, eight Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs had voted in favor of BJP-backed independent candidate Rai, due to which the opposition’s common candidate Datteshwar Hota lost the election. Congress had decided to support BJD candidate Hota as per strategic understanding. Elections were held for four Rajya Sabha seats in Odisha. Of these, two seats were won by BJP and one seat was won by BJD. Apart from this, independent candidate Dilip Rai also won.
Which three Congress MLAs did cross voting?
The MLAs who cross-voted in favor of BJP-backed independent candidate Dilip Rai include Ramesh Chandra Jena of Sanakhemundi, Dasharathi Gomango of Mohana and Sophia Firdous of Barabati-Cuttack. According to Congress, these MLAs had voted in favor of Rai during the Rajya Sabha elections on Monday. A social media post by the Odisha Congress unit said, ‘Those who betray the Congress, betray the country.’
Who is Congress MLA Sophia Firdous?
Sophia Firdous became MLA by winning from Barabati-Cuttack seat in the 2024 assembly elections. His father Mohammad Muqeem has also been an MLA from this seat. He is counted among the big real estate businessmen of Odisha. The court had barred her from contesting elections in a fraud case, after which Sophia was given the ticket by Congress. Sophia has become the first Muslim woman MLA in the Odisha assembly elections. Her husband Meraj Ul Haq is also a businessman.
