Bhubaneswar, Mar 5: Odisha witnessed a rare moment of political unity on Thursday as senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Santrupt Misra and renowned urologist Dr. Datteswar Hota filed their nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections, political observers said.

The nomination filing took place at the Assembly Secretariat in the presence of BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, OPCC chief Bhakta Charan Das, CPI(M) state secretary Suresh Panigrahy, and other senior leaders.

Both candidates submitted their papers to Legislative Assembly Secretary Satyabrata Rout, the returning officer for the polls.

Patnaik congratulated the nominees, expressing confidence in their success. He had earlier appealed to all parties to support Dr. Hota as a “common candidate,” a move that has now materialized into a historic alliance.

The Congress’ backing of Hota is being seen as politically significant, given the decades-long rivalry between the BJD and Congress. OPCC chief Das described the decision as a “historic initiative,” emphasizing that like-minded parties had united to prioritize Odisha’s welfare. He ruled out cross-voting, assuring that Congress MLAs would follow party instructions.

Dr. Hota, grateful for the support, pledged to focus on Odisha’s development, particularly in healthcare. “Serving people is not only my duty but also my dharma,” he said, promising to bring his medical expertise into public service.

Meanwhile, Santrupt Misra, a former corporate honcho, reaffirmed that BJD legislators would ensure the victory of both candidates endorsed by Patnaik.

The BJP, however, has announced its own nominees — Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal, sitting MP Sujeet Kumar, and independent candidate Dilip Ray — setting the stage for a competitive contest.

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With four Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant on April 2 following the retirement of BJD’s Niranjan Bishi and Munna Khan, and BJP’s Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta, the elections are expected to be closely fought.

According to Assembly numbers, the BJP is assured of two seats, while the BJD is certain of one. The fourth seat will hinge on alliances and cross-party support, making this unity move crucial in shaping Odisha’s representation in the Upper House.