Bhubaneswar: Soon after BJP declared Ashwini Vaishnaw’s name for Rajya Sabha today, the BJD announced that it will support the candidature of Vaishnaw for the larger interest of the state’s railways & telecom development.
A press release from Sakha Bhawan reads, “Biju Janata Dal will Support the candidature of Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Union Minister, Railways, Communication and Information and Technology for the larger interest of State’s Railway and Telecom Development in the ensuing Election to Rajya Sabha-2024”.
With this Vaishnaw is likely to get elected from Odisha with the support of the state’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which has backed the BJP in Parliament on a case-to-case basis. In 2019 as well, Vaishnaw was elected to Rajya Sabha with BJD’s support.
In the present round of the Rajya Sabha poll, Odisha has three vacant seats. Speculation was rife about Vaishnaw’s candidature from Odisha as the BJD has the required strength to win all three vacant seats. Earlier, BJD chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had nominated two party candidates for two posts and kept the third seat vacant.
The BJP has only 22 MLAs in the Odisha Assembly. A candidate requires at least 37 votes to win one Rajya Sabha seat in Odisha. Therefore, Vaishnaw will need the support of the BJD to sail through.
Also Read: Rajya Sabha Elections: BJP Renominates Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw From Odisha
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