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Odisha Rajya Sabha Polls Heat Up: BJP, BJD, Congress Race to Pick Candidates

Political parties in Odisha have accelerated efforts to finalize candidates for four upcoming Rajya Sabha vacancies. The BJP's state unit president stated the party will decide its strategy and candidates after internal discussions. The BJD's Political Affairs Committee, led by Naveen Patnaik, is meeting to deliberate on its candidate, while the Congress state chief will consult the high command in Delhi. The Election Commission has set the poll schedule, with the process to be completed by March 20.

Key Points: Odisha Rajya Sabha Polls: Parties Finalize Candidates for 4 Seats

  • EC issues schedule for 4 Odisha Rajya Sabha seats
  • BJP, BJD, Congress in candidate selection mode
  • BJD PAC meeting chaired by Naveen Patnaik
  • Nominations close March 5, polls if needed on March 16
3 min read

Odisha Rajya Sabha polls: Parties intensify candidate selection after EC notification

BJP, BJD, and Congress intensify candidate selection for four Odisha Rajya Sabha seats after EC notification. Key meetings and strategies underway.

"Now that the notification has been issued, we will discuss the matter within the party and decide our strategy accordingly. - Manmohan Samal"

Bhubaneswar, Feb 26

With the declaration of the schedule for the biennial Rajya Sabha poll, the three major political parties of the state, ruling BJP and the Opposition Biju Janata Dal and Congress have stepped up efforts to finalise candidates for the four vacant seats from Odisha.

Reacting to the Rajya Sabha election notification, Manmohan Samal, President of the BJP's Odisha unit, said the party will soon finalise its strategy and candidates.

"Now that the notification has been issued, we will discuss the matter within the party and decide our strategy accordingly. The candidates will be announced at the appropriate time," Samal said.

On speculation over the fourth seat and reports of a possible outside candidate, he added, "There is a lot of speculation, but the party will take a clear and firm decision. Any decision regarding this will be taken by the Parliamentary Party in consultation with the central leadership."

Meanwhile, the main Opposition BJD's 10-member Political Affairs Committee (PAC) headed by party president Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to meet later in the day to discuss the name of the candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls.

On Thursday, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das also told mediapersons that he would soon visit New Delhi to hold discussions with the party high command over the names for the Rajya Sabha polls. He said the party will announce its candidate by February 28.

Notably, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced the schedule for the biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across ten states, including Odisha, where four seats will fall vacant in April 2026 following the retirement of sitting members.

Briefing the media, Returning Officer and Secretary of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Satyabrata Rout, said the notification for the election has been issued on February 26.

"The election process will be conducted strictly in accordance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India and the provisions laid down in the Handbook for Returning Officers. All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth and transparent conduct of the polls," Rout stated.

The four Rajya Sabha members from Odisha who are set to retire on April 2 this year are Mamata Mahanta and Sujeet Kumar of the BJP, along with Muzibulla Khan and Niranjan Bishi of the BJD.

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections.

The notification was issued on Thursday, and the last date for filing nominations is March 5, 2026.

Scrutiny of nominations will take place on March 6 at 11:30 AM, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 9 by 3:00 PM.

Rout further informed that if a poll is required, it will be held on March 16 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Room No. 54, Assembly Buildings, Bhubaneswar, with counting of votes is scheduled for the same day at 5:00 PM. The entire election process is expected to be completed by March 20.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
The BJP needs to be very strategic. With four seats, they have a chance to strengthen their position. The "outside candidate" speculation is interesting—maybe they'll bring in a technocrat or an expert from a field like education or healthcare.
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David E
Watching from abroad, the process seems very detailed and transparent. The strict timeline and clear roles for the Returning Officer are commendable. Hope the candidate selection focuses on merit and a vision for Odisha's future.
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Ananya R
BJD's PAC meeting under Naveen Patnaik's leadership will be key. They have held strong for so long. It will be interesting to see if they choose seasoned politicians or fresh faces. The candidate for the fourth seat is the real suspense!
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Rahul R
With all due respect, I hope this isn't just about political maneuvering. We need representatives who will actually attend Parliament sessions and participate in debates, not just get a prestigious post. The track record of some retiring members wasn't great.
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Kavya N
Congress OPCC chief going to Delhi for discussions shows how centralised these decisions are. Would be good if more grassroots opinions from Odisha were considered. Fingers crossed for candidates who understand local issues like farmer distress and coastal erosion.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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