Setback to BJD in Odisha

KEONJHAR (ODISHA): In a setback to the ruling BJD, the chairperson of Keonjhar municipality Meena Majhi today lost the no-trust motion moved against her by her own party colleagues.

Of the 21-member urban local body, 16 members attended the no-confidence vote. While one member abstained from the polling, 15 others comprising nine from the BJD and six from Congress, voted against Majhi.

"Sixteen members were present to cast their votes. Of them, 15 councillors voted in favour of no-trust motion and one abstained from voting. I would convey this to the government and the Collector," Keonjhar Sub Collector Purna Chandra Mishra said.

The nine BJD members voted in support of the no-trust move and thereby opposing the chairperson of the party. The BJD had issued a whip to its councillors yesterday asking them not to vote in the no-trust motion.

Senior BJD leader and Urban Development Minister Badri Narayan Patra said: "Action would be taken against the members who have gone against the party whip not to vote against the chairperson, as per the Anti-Defection Law recently passed in the Assembly."

The chairperson post of the municipality was for unreserved category. However, sources said as per Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's direction, Meena Majhi was made the chairperson of Keonjhar Municipality.