Rajya Sabha election: BJD, Congress ask MLAs not to leave Bhubaneswar till March 16
The Hindu
BJD and Congress urge MLAs to stay in Bhubaneswar until March 16 amid concerns over Rajya Sabha election cross-voting.
The Congress has moved a group of its legislators from Odisha to Bengaluru ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16, amid apprehensions of cross-voting.
According to Congress sources, around eight MLAs from the party’s Odisha unit were flown from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru late on Thursday night (March 12, 2026) and have been accommodated at a resort on the outskirts of the city.
The move, party insiders said, is aimed at ensuring unity among the legislators in the run-up to the election.
Sources in the Congress said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure after the BJP fielded a second candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat, triggering intense political manoeuvring in the State.
“There were concerns about possible cross-voting and attempts to influence MLAs. As a safeguard, the leadership decided to move them out of the State until the voting,” a Congress functionary said.
Party leaders indicated that more legislators could join the group soon. “Four more MLAs are expected to arrive in Bengaluru by Saturday morning (March 14),” a Congress source said.
BJD and Congress urge MLAs to stay in Bhubaneswar until March 16 amid concerns over Rajya Sabha election cross-voting.
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