Argus News - Trending: Congress Dissent, BJD Unrest as Rajya Sabha Election Heats Up in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Mar 14: The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha have triggered intense political manoeuvring across parties, with both ruling and opposition camps facing internal challenges.

Congress announced support for BJD’s common candidate Dr. Datteswar Hota, but the decision has sparked dissent. PCC chief Bhakta Charan Das has camped in Bengaluru with eight MLAs, while senior leaders Dasarathi Gamang and Ramesh Jena have stayed away.

Adding to the turmoil, Cuttack-Barabati MLA Sofia Firdous openly opposed the party’s choice, alleging that the move undermines secularism and indirectly challenging the leadership.

Also read: Two Indian-Flagged LPG Tankers Safely Cross Strait of Hormuz, to Reach Domestic Ports by March 17

“For the Rajya Sabha candidate selection, no consultation or advice was taken from most party legislators. Some Congress MLAs were taken to Bengaluru, but I was not informed. I was not told anything about the Rajya Sabha candidate selection. I was not called during the Nuapada by-election,” stated Sofia during a press conference on Saturday. “In the Cuttack-Barabati constituency, new leaders are being introduced, but I was not given any information,” she added.

Slamming the party’s decision to join hands with Biju Janata Dal (BJD), she said: “The BJD has always aligned with the BJP. There was a need to maintain equal distance from both BJD and BJP. This Congress decision has hurt secularism. Some leaders within the party are conspiring to weaken Congress.”

Despite this, Congress legislative party leaders insist all members stand by the decision.

BJD too faces similar unrest. Earlier statements by leaders Souvic Biswal and Subhasini Jena raised doubts, and recently four MLAs skipped a training session at Naveen Niwas, creating unease within the party.

Meanwhile, BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik accused BJP of indulging in “horse-trading.” In response, BJP MP Pratap Sarangi hit back, saying: “It is Naveen who engages in horse-trading. In the past, he tried to buy me by sending people. ”

The fourth Rajya Sabha seat has become a litmus test for both ruling and opposition parties. With voting scheduled for March 16, all parties are keeping a close watch on their legislators amid growing trust deficits.

Assembly Strength and Numbers

Odisha Assembly has 147 members. BJP holds 79 seats and enjoys support from three independents, totaling 82. BJD has 48 MLAs, while Congress has 14, supported by one CPM member. Thus, BJP commands 82 legislators, while the combined opposition has 65.

Rajya Sabha Equation

Four seats are up for election. Based on the formula — total Assembly members divided by (vacant seats + 1) plus 1 — the winning threshold is 30 votes. This makes the contest for the fourth seat highly competitive, with both camps striving to secure numbers.

The political atmosphere in Odisha remains tense, with allegations, counter-allegations, and visible cracks within parties. The outcome of the Rajya Sabha polls will be crucial in shaping the balance of power and testing party unity.