Bhubaneswar, Jun 5: Senior leader Debashish Samantaray filed his nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election from Odisha at the State Assembly here on Friday, contesting as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, State BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Manmohan Samal along with several Ministers, MLAs and senior party leaders were present during the filing of nomination papers.

The BJP announced Samantaray’s nomination on Thursday, about a week after he resigned from the Upper House as a BJD member and formally joined the saffron party in New Delhi on May 25. His resignation necessitated the by-election, scheduled for June 18.

With 79 MLAs in the 147-member Odisha Assembly, the BJP is well-positioned to ensure Samantaray’s victory. Political observers note that neither the BJD nor the Congress is expected to field a candidate, making the by-poll largely a formality. His election would raise the BJP’s Rajya Sabha strength from Odisha to four.

Speaking to reporters after filing his papers, Samantaray voiced optimism about the BJP’s prospects in the state. He said more leaders from other mainstream parties are likely to join the BJP in the coming days, stressing that the party offers greater opportunities for public service and development.
Also Read: BJP Nominates Debashish Samantaray for Rajya Sabha Bypoll From Odisha

Samantaray’s political career spans over two decades. He was elected thrice to the Odisha Legislative Assembly as a BJD candidate, representing Tirtol in 2000 and Cuttack-Barabati in 2009 and 2014. In 2024, he entered the Rajya Sabha. His resignation from the BJD and swift induction into the BJP marked a decisive turn in his political trajectory.

His candidature for the by-election signals both a new chapter in his career and a boost to the BJP’s efforts to expand its influence in Odisha’s political landscape.