NCP seeks disqualification of four Odisha legislators

Bhubaneswar - The Odisha unit of the Nationalist Congress Party Tuesday sought disqualification of its four legislators who last month defected to the state's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

"We have submitted our petition to the assembly secretary as the (assembly) speaker (Pradip Amat) was not present. The way they (the NCP legislators) defected it was unlawful, undemocratic and illegal. They are liable to be disqualified for violating the anti-defection law," NCP state unit president Utkala Parida told IANS.

In a significant development, all the four NCP members in the state assembly joined the BJD along with several other party office bearers June 5.

They include NCP legislative party leader Amar Prasad Satpathy and members Prashant Nanda, Navin Nanda and Ramachandra Hansda.