Ahead of February 7 Rajya Sabha polls, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) also lifted its suspension order on lanjigarh MlA Sivaji Majhi on Wednesday.
Majhi’s suspension was revoked a day after the suspension of Chitrakonda MlA Mamata Madhi lifted. “Majhi was suspended for remaining absent in the 2010 RS polls. Now it has been lifted,” OPCC Disciplinary Committee Chairman Harihar Karan said.
lifting of the suspension orders on Majhi and Madhi is aimed to ensure victory of Congress candidate Ranjib Biswal in the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections, party insiders said.
Majhi’s absence had ensured the victory of the BJD’s fourth candidate Baishnab Parida despite the fact that the ruling party did not have the numbers in the Assembly to get him elected in 2010.
The PCC took disciplinary action against Majhi on June 14, 2011 within a week of the release of an audio tape which claimed that two Ministers, Pushpendra Singh Deo and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak had negotiated with Majhi to refrain from the voting.
On the other hand, Madhi was suspended for being unable to attend the Assembly during a no-trust motion against Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat move by Opposition Congress in April 2013.