Bhubaneswar, April 4: Mamata Madhi, Congress MLA from Chitrakonda in Malkangiri, was today suspended for defying the party whip during the move to remove Odisha Speaker Pradip Amat through a resolution in the Assembly yesterday.

“She has been suspended from the party on disciplinary grounds,” said Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik.

Mamata’s support was crucial for the success of the resolution, which could not be moved as the party failed to rustle up the requisite support. The party lost face in public and the issue brought cracks within the organisation to the fore.

Assembly rules require the support of 28 members for moving a resolution against the Speaker for discussion. When the motion was moved yesterday, the Oppositions Congress had only 27 members, including two Independent members, in support. Had Mahdhi been present the resolution could have been moved and discussed.

Though the Congress has 27 MLAs in the Assembly, at the time of moving the resolution, two of them, Nihar Ranjan Mahananda (Atabira) and Mamata Madhi (Chitrakonda), were absent. While Mahananda had informed the party that he would not be available as he was busy with Notified Area Council (NAC) elections in his constituency, Mamata had given no hint about her absence to the party leadership.

Mamata’s absence made the party a laughing stock. The party MLAs reacted sharply to her absence.

The Congress, which is trying hard to make a come back to the power, performed well in the elections to the three Notified Area Councils (NACs) — Atabira in Baragarh district, Hindol in Dhenkanal and Nuapada. While the party emerged as the single largest party in Hindol and Nuapada, it is level with the BJD in Atabira.

BJD MLA Anjali Behera represents the Hindol Assembly constituency while the ruling party MLA Rajendra Dholkia represents the Nuapada constituency.

The Congress managed to win the seats in the ward of Anjali Behera in Hindol NAC. Of the 16 wards in Hindol, Congress won seven, Independent - six, BJD - two and BJP - one. Similarly, of 14 wards in Nuapada NAC, Congress won seven, BJD - four and BJP - three. On the other hand, in the Atabira NAC, the Congress and the BJD bagged six seats each.

The election result has brought cheers to the faction ridden Congress. Patnaik said: “Our strategy has worked. The people of Odisha are frustrated with the Naveen Patnaik government. This is just the beginning. The impact of the results will be felt in the coming Assembly elections.”