In a setback for the ruling BJD, the party's chairperson in the Dhenkanal Municipality Indramani Behera lost the trust vote as 17 councillors voted in favour of the 'no trust motion'.
"Of the 23 councillors in the civic body, 20 members participated in the motion moved by the Congress. While three votes were invalid, 17 others voted favouring the no-trust move," said Dhenkanal sub-collector Abani K Pattnaik.
While Congress and BJP had issued whips to their councillors to vote in favour of the motion, the BJD had asked its councillors to abstain from voting on the motion.
However, four BJD councillors took part in the voting defying the party's whip.
Pattnaik said the civic body's vice-chairperson Namita Behera of BJP would remain in charge till a new person was elected.
Meanwhile, Behera had moved the Orissa High Court challenging the Collector's order for a 'trust motion'. The High Court had, however, declined to grant a stay.
Keeping in view a possible law and order situation, section 144 was clamped around the municipal office.
In the 23-member civic body, Congress has 11 members, while BJD has six members, followed by five of the BJP and one Independent candidate.
Despite not having adequate number, the BJD had formed the council with help of BJP members in 2013. As there was a tie up with the Congress, Behera got elected on lottery process. The Independent member had not then participated in the voting.
