Argus News - Rajya Sabha Elections: Odisha’s Fourth Seat Sees Intense Political Battle

Bhubaneswar, Feb 18: The Election Commission on Wednesday announced biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states. In Odisha, four seats will fall vacant on April 2, setting the stage for a closely watched contest that is expected to spark intense political battle, observers said.

The tenure of sitting four Rajya Sabha members from Odisha- Muna Khan, Niranjan Bishi, Mamata Mahant and Sujit Kumar- will end on April 2.

While Assembly arithmetic appears to have settled three of the four seats, the remaining one has triggered intense speculation and rivalry among the state’s major political parties.

Based on current numbers in the 147-member Assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is assured of two seats, while the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is expected to retain one. Each candidate requires 30 first-preference votes to win.

With 79 BJP MLAs and support from three Independents, the saffron party has the strength to claim two seats outright. The BJD, with 50 MLAs including two suspended legislators, can secure one seat.

The fourth seat, however, remains undecided. Both BJP and BJD will be left with surplus votes—22 for BJP and 20 for BJD—making alliances, cross-voting and tactical manoeuvres decisive.

Political observers suggest the BJP could tilt the balance either through its own nominee or an independent backed by the party. Speculation also surrounds the possibility of the BJD extending tacit support to a BJP-backed candidate to avoid direct confrontation with the central leadership.

The Congress, with 14 MLAs, has signalled its intent to field a candidate, though its chances remain slim. The CPM’s lone MLA and three Independents add further complexity to the arithmetic. While the numbers appear stacked against smaller parties, their participation could heighten the drama around the fourth seat.

With nominations opening on February 26 and polling scheduled for March 16, Odisha’s Rajya Sabha elections are expected to be closely watched, not only for their immediate outcome but also for the larger political signals they may send ahead of national contests.

Also Read: Rajya Sabha Election Puts Naveen Patnaik in a Strategic Dilemma

Notably, the Election Commission today announced biennial elections for 37 seats of the Rajya Sabha in 10 states. Seven seats in Maharashtra, six seats in Tamil Nadu, five seats each in Bihar and West Bengal, four seats in Odisha, three seats in Assam, two seats each in Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Haryana, and one seat in Himachal Pradesh are falling vacant.

The notification for the polls will be issued on February 26, and nominations can be filed till March 5. Polling will be held on March 16, the Commission said.