Bhubaneswar, May 21 (PTI) The Odisha assembly on Tuesday issued showcause notices to four MLAs of the ruling BJD, seeking explanation as to why they should not be disqualified on grounds of defection.

Assembly Secretary Dasarathi Satapathy issued notices to Nimapada MLA Samir Ranjan Dash, Hindol legislator Simarani Nayak, Athamallik MLA Ramesh Sai and Soro legislator Parshuram Dhada.

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All the sitting MLAs have been asked to reply by May 27.

The four legislators had resigned from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) after the party denied tickets to them in the ensuing elections and joined opposition BJP.

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Earlier, the Odisha assembly had disqualified two BJD MLAs – Arabinda Dhali (Jayadev) and Premananda Nayak (Telkoi) – after they quit the party.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)