Odisha's Rajya Sabha Election Campaign Intensifies as March 16 Poll Notification Issued
Political activity across Odisha has surged dramatically following the Election Commission of India's official notification for the crucial March 16 Rajya Sabha election. With four parliamentary seats set to become vacant, all major political parties have accelerated their preparations and candidate selection processes.
BJP Confident of Securing Multiple Seats
State BJP president Manmohan Samal announced that the party's Parliamentary Board will soon finalize their candidates for the upcoming election. The BJP currently holds 79 MLAs in the 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly, with additional support from three Independent legislators. This gives them sufficient numbers to comfortably secure two Rajya Sabha seats, though party leaders have expressed confidence about winning all three available positions.
"We have forwarded potential names to our central leadership," Samal stated. "The Parliamentary Board will make the final decision shortly."
Among the prominent contenders being considered are former state BJP chief Samir Mohanty, outgoing Rajya Sabha member Sujeet Kumar who is seeking re-nomination, and several central party leaders. Samal himself is widely perceived as a strong contender for one of the positions.
BJD Empowers Naveen Patnaik for Final Decision
The Biju Janata Dal's Political Affairs Committee, the party's highest decision-making body, convened on Thursday and unanimously authorized party president Naveen Patnaik to make the final selection regarding candidates and overall election strategy. This move demonstrates the former chief minister's continued authority within the regional party.
Earlier in the day, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra collected six sets of nomination papers from the assembly secretariat on behalf of the party. While multiple nomination sets can be filed for a single candidate, this action raised eyebrows among political observers since each set requires ten MLAs as proposers. The BJD currently has fifty MLAs, with two currently suspended from the assembly.
After the ten-member PAC meeting chaired by Naveen Patnaik, committee member and MLA Pramila Mallik revealed, "The PAC members have left the final decision entirely to our former chief minister."
Party insiders suggest the BJD is likely to field just one candidate, as securing a Rajya Sabha seat requires thirty first-preference votes, a threshold the party comfortably meets with its current legislative strength.
Potential BJD Candidates Emerge
According to senior BJD leaders, the frontrunner for the party's nomination appears to be Santrupt Misra, a corporate-leader-turned-politician who serves as Naveen Patnaik's political secretary and functions as the BJD's national spokesperson. Although Misra unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he remains closely aligned with Naveen Patnaik and enjoys the trust of influential advisor VK Pandian.
Two other names under active consideration include former ministers Debi Prasad Mishra and Snehangini Chhuria. Mishra, a six-time former MLA and senior BJD vice-president, serves on the PAC and is considered one of Naveen Patnaik's most trusted aides. Chhuria, who heads the BJD women's wing and represents western Odisha prominently, lost the Nuapada bypoll but maintains significant influence as an organizational leader.
Congress Position and Strategic Considerations
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee chief Bhakta Charan Das announced that the Congress party will finalize its election plan by Saturday. Das, who previously suggested exploring a joint strategy with the BJD, emphasized that the Congress will play a crucial role in determining the election's outcome despite its smaller legislative presence.
The political landscape in Odisha has become increasingly dynamic as these developments unfold. With the BJP expressing confidence about securing three seats despite mathematical constraints, the BJD consolidating decision-making authority with its veteran leader, and the Congress positioning itself as a potential kingmaker, the March 16 Rajya Sabha election promises to be a significant political event with implications for both state and national politics.
