No disciplinary action against Majhi and Minz

BHUBANESWAR: Even after one year, the Congress has not taken disciplinary action against the two MLAs - Shivaji Majhi and Gregory Minz - for abstaining from the June 2010 Rajya Sabha polls which led to the defeat of the Congress and the BJP supported Independent candidate. Even inquiry into the vote of another Congress MLA, which was declared invalid, has not been completed. The invalid vote had created controversy with a section of the Congress alleging that the vote was deliberately made invalid to help the third BJD candidate. Though the Congress had announced an inquiry into the matter, it never made any headway. After a year when the controversy resurfaced, the party has constituted a committee to inquire into all the cases. Explanations were sought from the MLAs who abstained. The MLAs had submitted their replies which were now being studied, senior leader Narasingh Mishra told mediapersons. He, however, admitted that there has been delay in taking action against the truant MLAs.  They were asked to explain why they defied the party whip and abstained. On the allegation of receiving money, the committee will inquire and recommend action. Mishra said the committee would also inquire into the issue of invalid vote and fix responsibility.  The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) had resolved not to associate the two MLAs in any activity of the party. The CLP had also announced that it would seek changes in the their sitting arrangements in the Assembly. Since then they have not attended any CLP meeting.