Bhubaneswar: With Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka, who was abducted by Maoists, yet to spell out whether to quit membership of Odisha Assembly as per an agreement with the ultras for his release, ruling BJD leaders on Saturday claimed resignation under pressure was unacceptable.
"The Assembly Speaker had in his earlier ruling categorically said resignation tendered under pressure was not accepted," said senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra.
If Hikaka resigns from the state assembly, it should not be accepted by the Speaker, Mohapatra said citing an earlier ruling.
Earlier, an independent MLA from Cuttack district had put in his papers and requested the Speaker to accept it.
However, it was not accepted after the Speaker felt the action was due to the pressure from some external force.
Mohapatra, considered as the chief strategist of BJD, was speaking on the possibility of resignation by Hikaka who was freed on April 26 by Maoists on condition that he would put in his papers within 15 days.
Hikaka said over phone "I have not yet decided in this regard. You will know everything soon".
He said he had been consulting with the people of his constituency on the course of action.
The Laximpur MLA had reportedly given a written commitment at the Maoist`s `Praja court` that he would resign from the assembly membership within 15 days after being released.
PTI
