Worse than the ignominy was the all-too-real spectre of a full-fledged rebellion. When at least 14 legislators defied a party whip and cross-voted in the favour of rebel Rajya Sabha candidate Dilip Ray, it bode ill for the Biju Janata Dal and its CM. Going by the numbers (Ray won by 28 votes), Biju Patnaik’s heir-unapparent has got a real fight on his hands.