Odisha politics heats up as four Rajya Sabha seats prepare to fall vacant in April 2026.
Parties begin calculations, and the BJP faces crucial decisions about leadership and representation.
BJP state president Manmohan Samal gains prominence after the party’s decisive victory in the Nuapada by-election. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Samal led the campaign, strengthening his claim for a Rajya Sabha berth. Party insiders also discuss his possible entry into the cabinet through the Planning Board vice-chairman post, which currently remains unoccupied.
The upcoming vacancies include seats held by BJD leaders Munna Khan and Niranjan Bisi, along with BJP’s Sujit Kumar and Mamata Mohanta. Discussions suggest Samal could secure a Rajya Sabha nomination, while former MP Basant Panda also appears in contention. Senior BJP leaders such as Golak Mohapatra, former Union Minister Bishweshwar Tudu, and former minister Dilip Ray remain part of the race.
BJD circles speculate about Santrupt Mishra and Sujata Karthikeyan, wife of VK Pandian, as possible candidates. Congress votes may play a decisive role if opposition parties align. BJP currently holds 79 seats in the Assembly, supported by three independents, raising its strength to 82. BJD stands at 50, Congress at 14, and CPI(M) at one.
With numbers favouring the BJP, analysts expect the party to secure at least two of the four seats. Opposition may claim the remaining two, though unity between BJD and Congress appears unlikely. The Rajya Sabha race highlights Odisha’s shifting political balance and the growing influence of Manmohan Samal.
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