The Congress on Tuesday expelled its three MLAs in Odisha, namely, Sofia Firdous, Ramesh Jena, and Dasarathi Gamango, for defying the party whip and voting for Dilip Ray, a candidate supported by the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election. Odisha Congress unit called the three leaders "traitors". "Those who betray Congress are betraying the nation," said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee.