BJP Wins Three of Four Rajya Sabha Seats in Odisha; BJD Retains One

Bhubaneswar: The Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha concluded on Monday with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) securing three out of the four vacant seats, while the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) managed to retain one seat. The polling also witnessed instances of cross-voting, indicating deviations from party lines.

Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal and sitting MP Sujeet Kumar were elected on the party’s official tickets. Former Union Minister Dilip Ray, who contested as an Independent candidate with BJP support, also emerged victorious, strengthening the party’s presence in the Upper House from the state.

Expressing gratitude after the victory, Dilip Ray thanked legislators across party lines for their support. He said that while some had termed the outcome as horse-trading, he believed the result reflected the sentiments of the voters. Ray added that he was grateful to all those who voted for him and promised to work sincerely for the development of Odisha.

From the BJD, Santrupt Misra won the fourth seat. Meanwhile, Datteswar Hota, the joint candidate of the BJD-Congress-CPI(M) alliance and a well-known urologist, was defeated in the election.

The four Rajya Sabha seats had fallen vacant on April 2 following the retirement of the sitting members. The newly elected members are expected to receive their certificates from the returning officer soon, officially confirming their entry into the Upper House.

With the results, the BJP has significantly strengthened its representation in the Rajya Sabha from Odisha, while the BJD now holds one of the four seats.