THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
MARCH 3, 2026
The
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday formally announced the names of
Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar as its candidates from Odisha for the upcoming
Rajya Sabha elections, setting the stage for an intense political contest in
the state. The declaration, cleared by the party’s central committee, signals
the BJP’s calculated push to consolidate its position ahead of the crucial
election.
Soon
after the announcement, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated
Manmohan Samal, underscoring the party’s confidence in its chosen nominees.
Central leaders described both candidates as seasoned and organisationally
strong, expressing optimism about their prospects in the Upper House race.
Political
observers view the move as a strategic assertion by the BJP as it prepares for
a high-stakes battle, particularly for the fourth Rajya Sabha seat from Odisha.
The contest has grown sharper after the opposition Congress extended its
support to BJD candidate Dr. Datteshwar Hota on Monday, triggering fresh
political alignments and recalibrations.
Adding
a fresh twist to the evolving political drama, senior leader Dilip Ray
announced on Tuesday that he will contest the Rajya Sabha election as an
independent candidate. Ray stated that he is set to file his nomination on
March 5. In a significant development, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal
asserted that the party would extend its support “on principle” to Dilip Ray’s
candidature to the Rajya Sabha, a statement that has further intensified
political calculations in the state.
The BJP’s decision to field three candidates has also fuelled speculation, particularly after the party purchased 16 nomination sets — a move widely interpreted as a signal of its intent to mount a strong challenge. All three party candidates are slated to file their nominations on March 5, with BJP MLAs directed to remain present during the process. Legislators’ signatures have already been secured on the nomination papers, indicating meticulous groundwork by the ruling party.
With the ruling BJP on one side and opposition camps led by the BJD and Congress on the other, and an independent candidate now in the fray, the Rajya Sabha election in Odisha is poised to evolve into a closely watched political showdown in the days ahead.
