Odisha Congress MLAs, Including Sofia Firdous, Suspended for Cross-Voting in Rajya Sabha Polls

In the recent Rajya Sabha elections, three Odisha Congress MLAs, including first-time legislator Sofia Firdous, reportedly voted for BJP-backed candidates, leading to their suspension by the Congress party. Firdous expressed dissatisfaction with Congress's alliance with BJD, viewing BJD as BJP's 'B-team' and choosing to support the BJP 'A-team'. The Congress has condemned the cross-voting as betrayal, with leaders calling for disqualification and attributing the defections to internal party issues and alleged external influences.