The by-election to the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by Debashish Samantaray in Odisha will be conducted on June 18, as announced by the Election Commission of India on Wednesday. The notification for the bypoll is scheduled to be issued on June 1, with June 8 set as the final date for filing nominations. Scrutiny of nominations will follow, and June 11 has been fixed as the deadline for withdrawal of candidature.
Term and Political Context
The winner of this by-election will serve the remainder of Samantaray's term, which runs until April 2030, approximately four years. Samantaray, who was elected to the Upper House in April 2024, resigned on May 25. Given the Bharatiya Janata Party's numerical strength in the Odisha assembly, the party is well-positioned to win the seat. Party sources indicate that Samantaray may be fielded again, following a strategy similar to earlier cases involving Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta. Both had resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the Biju Janata Dal before joining the BJP and returning to the Upper House.
Samantaray's Political Background
Debashish Samantaray hails from a political family and has been elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly three times. He was first elected from Tirtol in 2000 and later twice from Barabati-Cuttack in 2009 and 2019. His father, Nityananda Samantaray, a veteran Congress leader, was elected MLA from Tirtol in 1985.
This by-election is a significant event in Odisha's political landscape, reflecting ongoing realignments among major parties. The Election Commission has outlined a clear schedule to ensure a smooth electoral process.
