Argus News - Breaking News: Odisha Rajya Sabha Polls Result Out as Manmohan Samal, Sujeet Kumar, Dilip Ray and Santrupt Mishra Win

Bhubaneswar, Mar 16: Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal, fellow party member and MP Sujeet Kumar, independent candidate Dilip Ray, and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate Santrupt Mishra secured their Rajya Sabha tickets after winning the elections.

The result closed the Rajya Sabha doors for the other BJD candidate Datteswar Hota, who finished at the bottom among the five candidates with lowest votes.

The Odisha Rajya Sabha election results came amid tension and cross-voting. Manmohan Samal, Sujeet Kumar, Dilip Ray, and Santrupt Mishra emerged victorious, while the contest between BJD’s common candidate Datteswar Hota and BJP-backed independent Dilip Ray ended in latter’s favour.

Also read: Odisha Rajya Sabha Polls Rocked by Cross-Voting Shock as 11 MLAs Defy Party Whips

BJP’s Nilgiri MLA Santosh Khatua explained the vote distribution: Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar received 35 first-preference votes each. Santrupt Mishra secured 31, while Dilip Ray and Datteswar Hota both initially received 23 votes each.

Since candidates with more than 30 first-preference votes had surplus ballots, those excess votes were transferred to second-preference choices. Mishra’s surplus vote went to Hota, raising his tally to 24.

Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar’s 5.8% surplus votes — amounting to 11 ballots — were transferred to Dilip Ray. As a result, Dilip Ray secured a total of 34 votes, BJP’s Nilgiri MLA Santosh Khatua confirmed.

Breakdown of the Vote Tally

• Manmohan Samal: 2,941 votes
• Sujeet Kumar: 2,941 votes
• Santrupt Mishra: 3,100 votes
• Datteswar Hota: 2,300 votes
• Dilip Ray: 3,418 votes

Khatua further clarified that BJP members strategically marked Dilip Ray as their second preference after Samal or Kumar, ensuring Ray’s victory. He said, “After the first-preference count, surplus votes lose value unless second-preference choices are considered. That’s how we secured the win.”

Earlier, Dilip Ray, before the official announcement of results, expressed his joy and gratitude through a social media (X) post after his victory in the RS elections. “Deeply humbled and grateful. Today’s victory in the Rajya Sabha election from Odisha is not mine alone — it reflects the trust and goodwill shown by Hon’ble Members of the Legislative Assembly across political lines,” wrote the political leader.

“I sincerely thank the Hon’ble Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party for their steadfast support. I am equally grateful to the MLAs from the BJD, Congress, and the Independents who chose to extend their support. Such moments reflect the true strength of our democracy — where the larger interests of the people and the state bring everyone together,” he wrote further.

“I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. In the Rajya Sabha, I will strive to represent the aspirations of the people of Odisha and work sincerely for the progress of our state and our nation. With folded hands, I thank everyone for the faith and trust placed in me. Jai Jagannath,” he concluded his post.