Odisha Rajya Sabha elections: BJP moves MLAs to Paradip ahead of 16 March vote

The Odisha BJP has moved its MLAs, including ministers, to Paradip ahead of the 16 March Rajya Sabha elections after a meeting in Bhubaneswar. The party has named Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal and re-nominated MP Sujeet Kumar, while supporting party leader and hotelier Dilip Ray as an Independent.

The BJP in Odisha moved all party MLAs to the port town of Paradip on Saturday evening. The shift came ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections on March 16. Party leaders said the move aimed to prepare MLAs for voting. Two luxury buses carried the MLAs, including ministers, after a key meeting.

The meeting took place at the BJP state headquarters and included senior figures. Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal attended along with chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Other senior leaders joined, including the BJP’s central observer for the Rajya Sabha polls. After the meeting, the group left together for Paradip.

Rajya Sabha elections: BJP candidates and MLA training plan

The BJP nominated Manmohan Samal and re-nominated MP Sujeet Kumar as official candidates. The party also backed party leader and hotelier Dilip Ray as an Independent candidate. Party sources said the MLAs will stay at a luxury hotel in Paradip owned by Ray. The plan also includes training sessions before voting.

While boarding the bus, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra said, "We are certain to win in three of the four Rajya Sabha seats going to polls on March 16.\" K C Patra added, \"The party has already prepared a strategy.\" K C Patra said MLAs will receive training at Paradip before voting.

Law Minister Prithiviraj Harchandan also spoke about the party’s expectations. Prithiviraj Harchandan said, \"Wait till Monday evening,\" and mentioned a special session in Paradip. Prithiviraj Harchandan said the training will focus on voting procedure. The aim is to avoid mistakes and ensure correct voting.

Rajya Sabha elections: mock drill and polling-day roles

The BJP appointed the party’s deputy chief whip, P K Deb, as its official agent. P K Deb will remain present at the polling booth in the Assembly on polling day. On Saturday, members of all parties joined a mock drill. The drill took place in room number 54 of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

An Assembly official said practice was needed due to many new legislators. The official said, \"The training and mock drill are very important because, as many as 84 first-time MLAs have been elected to the 147-member House.\" Parties focused on steps that reduce the risk of invalid votes.

Rajya Sabha elections: BJD meeting and Congress concerns

The BJD held a meeting on Saturday evening, called by party president Naveen Patnaik. After the meeting, party leader Manohar Randhari said, \"I could not attend the meeting on Friday evening due to illness. Today I attended the meeting, and the senior leaders imparted training to us on how to cast votes properly and cautioned us on possible rejection of votes. Every vote in the Rajya Sabha polls is valuable,\"

Within Congress, one MLA was not reachable and another raised concerns. Congress MLA Dasarathi Gomango from Mohana went incommunicado. Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam said, \"We are trying to contact him, but have not been able to reach him so far.\" Congress MLA Sofia Firdous spoke against backing a BJD-linked nominee.

Sofia Firdous, the Congress MLA from Barabati-Cuttack, criticised the party’s stand. Sofia Firdous said, \"The understanding with BJD may be harmful for the Congress,\" and did not confirm voting plans. The BJD fielded Santrupt Misra as its official candidate. It also named eminent urolologist Dr Datteswar Hota as a common candidate backed by Congress and CPIM.

CPIM MLA Laxman Munda said the party line was clear. Speaking at a press conference, Laxman Munda said he would vote for Dr Hota. Laxman Munda linked the decision to party instructions. The statements came as parties prepared for the March 16 contest in the Assembly.

The key contest is for the fourth seat, mainly between Ray and Hota. Parties said the BJP was confident of winning two seats based on Assembly strength. The BJD was also expected to secure one seat on numbers. Neither party had enough MLAs for an extra seat despite backing Independent candidates.

With inputs from PTI