Congress Barabati Cuttack MLA Mohammed Moquim, who has created a stir by going against the party line and voting in favour of Draupadi Murmu in the presidential election, has been served a show cause notice.
The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) issued the notice to Moquim, who voted for Murmu, even though Odisha Congress had decided to vote for opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha.
“It’s my personal decision as I’ve listened to my heart, which guided me to do something for the soil and that’s why I voted for her,” Moquim had said after casting his vote.
In the show-cause notice, OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak has asked the Barabati MLA to submit a reply within two weeks.
“Whereas you are indulging yourself and deliberately acting and carrying on propaganda against the programmes and decision of the Congress and as you are frequently addressing the electronic media deliberately acting in a way calculated to lower the prestige of Congress and carrying on propaganda against Congress and its office-bearers thereof,” the notice read.
“Please explain within two weeks why disciplinary action shall not be taken against you as deemed proper as per the Constitution of the Indian National Congress (INC) and its rules,” it added.
However, BJP MLA Bishnu Sethi heavily criticised the show-cause notice and said, “Moquim’s decision to vote for Draupadi Murmu is commendable. He chose to vote for the people of Odisha. I criticise this show-cause notice to him for following his heart.”
The voting for the presidential polls took place on Monday and the result was announced on Thursday. NDA Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu scripted history to become the first tribal leader to be elected as the President of India.
Murmu sealed the victory over opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha by crossing the half-way mark and polling well over 53% votes by the end of third round itself.