Argus News - Dharmendra Pradhan Congratulates BJP’s Rajya Sabha Candidates From Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Mar 3: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday extended his heartfelt greetings to BJP’s Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal and incumbent MP Sujeet Kumar for being nominated as party candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls from the state.

In a post on X, written in Odia, Pradhan congratulated Samal and Kumar, wishing them success in their journey ahead.

ଓଡ଼ିଶାରୁ ରାଜ୍ୟସଭା ପ୍ରାର୍ଥୀ ହୋଇଥିବା ଆମ ଦଳର ରାଜ୍ୟ ସଭାପତି ଶ୍ରୀ @SamalManmohan7 ଏବଂ ସାଂସଦ ଶ୍ରୀ @SujeetKOfficial ଙ୍କୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା । ଆପଣଙ୍କର ଏହି ଯାତ୍ରା ସଫଳ ଓ ମଙ୍ଗଳମୟ ହେଉ ।

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) March 3, 2026

The BJP’s Central Election Committee today announced the names of nine candidates, including two from Odisha, for the Rajya Sabha polls in different states.

Notably, with the retirement of four Rajya Sabha members from Odisha scheduled for April 2, elections are now necessary. The outgoing representatives include Niranjan Bishi and Munna Khan from BJD, along with Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta of the ruling BJP.

The party nominated Sujeet Kumar again for the Rajya Sabha as a reward for his work in western Odisha, while BJP Odisha chief Samal, who earlier served as a Rajya Sabha MP from 2000 to 2004, was nominated for his role in the BJP's win in the 2024 general elections.

Meanwhile, former Union Minister Dilip Ray announced that he will contest the Rajya Sabha polls as an Independent candidate, even as state BJP President Manmohan Samal declared the party’s support for him.

Also Read: BJP Names Manmohan Samal, Sujeet Kumar as Rajya Sabha Nominees from Odisha

On February 28, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik named senior party leader Santrupt Misra and renowned urologist Datteswar Hota as the two candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

Of the four seats that fall vacant on April 2, part of the 37 going to polls on March 16, the BJP has the numbers to win two, the BJD one, while the fourth seat is expected to witness a keen contest, with no party holding a clear majority. The outcome will be closely watched as it could alter the balance of representation from Odisha in the Upper House.