Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court on Thursday served notices on five Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs in connection with petitions seeking their disqualification over alleged cross-voting in the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections in the state.

The High Court directed the five legislators—Arvind Mohapatra, Sanatan Mahakud, Chakramani Kanhar, Souvic Biswal and Subasini Jena—to submit their replies by December 4.

The five BJD MLAs have been asked to explain why their membership of the Legislative Assembly should not be disqualified.

The HC will conduct further hearing on the matter on January 11, 2027.

Altogether eight BJD MLAs allegedly voted against the party’s decision in the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections.

Soon after the polls, the Opposition party had submitted petitions before the Speaker of Odisha Assembly seeking cancellation of the membership of the 8 legislators.

However, the Speaker dismissed the petitions on the grounds of procedural flaws. Challenging the Speaker’s order, BJD chief whip in the Odisha Assembly, Pramila Mallik, filed eight petitions in the HC.

The HC had earlier served a notice on the Speaker, who sought more time to file her reply.

The BJD, meanwhile, welcomed the intervention of the Orissa HC into the matter. “We have full faith in the judicial process and we hope that the case will be concluded within a specified time frame,” said Mallik.