Samal, who was re-elected unopposed to a fourth term as Odisha unit chief in July, is widely credited with building the BJP’s grassroots machinery in the state
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday named Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal and sitting MP Sujeet Kumar as its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16.
Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi with state BJP president Manmohan Samal in Bhubaneswar (PTI)
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Samal, who was re-elected unopposed to a fourth term as state unit chief in July, is widely credited with building the party’s grassroots machinery that contributed to the party winning the 2024 assembly elections, and ending the Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) uninterrupted 24-year rule. Samal, a former state minister, however, lost his own seat in the election.
Kumar was first elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJD ticket in April 2020 before he crossed the floor to join the BJP in September 2024 — a move that prompted BJD president Naveen Patnaik to expel the politician from western Odisha district of Kalahandi on charges of anti-party activities.
The BJP, which has 79 legislators in the 147-member assembly, also has the support of three Independent legislators. At 30 first-preference votes required per candidate, the party can comfortably elect both its nominees and still have 22 surplus votes.
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Hotelier and former union minister Dilip Ray, who unsuccessfully contested the Odisha elections on a BJP ticket from Rourkela, said on Tuesday that he would also contest the Rajya Sabha election as an Independent with the BJP’s support.
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Hotelier and former union minister Dilip Ray, who unsuccessfully contested the Odisha elections on a BJP ticket from Rourkela, said on Tuesday that he would also contest the Rajya Sabha election as an Independent with the BJP’s support.
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People familiar with the matter said the BJP would need at least eight MLAs from the Opposition to cross over during the voting for Dilip Ray to stand a good chance.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which has 50 legislators, has 20 surplus votes after ensuring the election of one candidate. The Odisha Congress along with a CPI (M) legislator, have another 15 legislators. Together, the three opposition parties thus have 35 votes, more than the threshold of 30 to see through their common candidate, urologist Datteswar Hota.
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But the Opposition will have to ensure that its lawmakers support the second BJD candidate, and not switch sides.
The last date for filing nominations is March 5, and nominations can be withdrawn till March 9.
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.
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