Government refers horse-trading issue to EC

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Saturday referred the alleged horse-trading during the 2010 Rajya Sabha elections to the Election Commission (EC) for appropriate action. Opposition political parties, however, rejected the initiative and described it as a ploy to hoodwink the people while reiterating their demand for a CBI probe to unearth the truth. Announcing this here, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told mediapersons here that the matter relating to the Rajya Sabha elections 2010 has been sent to the EC for appropriate action. After examination by the Home and Law departments, it was decided to refer the matter to the EC, he said.  The issue had resurfaced after the circulation of an audio tape allegedly involving two ministers of state in the Naveen Patnaik Ministry _ Pushpendra Singhdeo and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak _in the purchase of Congress MLA Shivaji Majhi which led to his abstention. Two more MLAs Gregory Minz of the Congress and Bhimsen Choudhury of the BJP had also abstained. All the three BJD candidates had won the Rajya Sabha polls. Circulation of another audio tape involving Independent candidate Tara Ranjan Patnaik and BJP MLAs has led to charges of phone-tapping of leaders of Opposition political parties by the State Government. Amidst mounting attack on ruling BJD from Opposition political parties over the issue, the Chief Minister had asked the Home Department to thoroughly examine the matter about a week ago. The Chief Minister had initially sought more time to act on the matter while reacting to alleged involvement of the two ministers in the horse-trading. Soon after the controversy resurfaced, the Congress suspended Majhi from the party. The party also constituted a four- member committee to inquire into the entire matter, including the invalid Congress vote. The BJP had suspended its MLA  Choudhury from the party a year ago. Senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra dismissed the government decision saying it was a ploy to hoodwink the people. By referring the matter to the EC, the Chief Minister is trying to buy time, Mishra said and added that only a CBI probe can unearth the entire truth.