Bhubaneswar: The secretary of Odisha Legislative Assembly today served show-cause notices to at least four MLAs of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), who previously resigned from the party.

An official source said that the MLAs are required to furnish their replies as to why they would not be disqualified on grounds of defection. Acting on directions from the Assembly Speaker, the notices were sent to Nimapara legislator Samir Ranjan Dash, Hindol legislator Simarani Nayak, Athamallik legislator Ramesh Chandra Sai, and Soro legislator Parshuram Dhada, under Rule 7(3)(a) of the Members of Odisha Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1987.

The four MLAs are to comply with the show-cause notices latest by May 27 or before that. Notices were served based on an earlier appeal made by the party’s chief whip, the official source added.

It is pertinent to mention here that on April 10 this year, Odisha Assembly Speaker disqualified two MLAs namely Arabinda Dhali and Premananda Nayak, who joined the saffron camp after resigning from the ruling party ahead of simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly in Odisha.

Membership of the Jayadev MLA Dhali and Telkoi MLA Nayak were disqualified as per the provisions as envisaged under Para 6(1) of the Constitution of India’s 10th Schedule.