BHUBANESWAR: With only two days remaining for the Rajya Sabha elections in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, the political climate in the state has reached a fever pitch. As the three major parties—the ruling BJP, the main opposition BJD, and the Congress—finalize their strategies, the battle for the upper house seats has become a high-stakes contest.
Congress Moves Lawmakers to Bengaluru
In a significant strategic move, Congress MLAs from Odisha have been shifted to a hotel in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Acting on the instructions of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das, the lawmakers are staying under the party’s watch until the day of the vote.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met with the Odisha MLAs in Bengaluru today to discuss the election strategy. Speaking to the national media after the meeting, Shivakumar confirmed, “Around 14 to 15 Congress MLAs from Odisha are here in Bengaluru. We are in constant touch and taking care of them. It is our duty to extend our hospitality. They will vote for the candidate supported by the Congress, BJD, and CPI in the Rajya Sabha elections.”
BJP Issues Whip for All MLAs
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also intensified its preparations. The party has fielded state president Manmohan Samal and Sujit Kumar as its official candidates and has already announced its support for independent candidate Dilip Ray.
To ensure no slip-ups during the voting process, Government Chief Whip Saroj Pradhan issued a formal “Whip” today. All BJP MLAs have been strictly instructed to remain present in the Assembly on March 16th and have been advised not to leave Bhubaneswar until the elections are concluded.
BJD Strategy Session at Naveen Niwas
Simultaneously, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) held a crucial meeting at Naveen Niwas today. Chaired by party president Naveen Patnaik, the meeting saw the attendance of all BJD MLAs. The session was reportedly focused on ensuring party discipline and finalizing the voting roadmap to navigate the complex numbers game.
The polling is scheduled to take place on March 16th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Odisha Legislative Assembly, with the results expected to be announced shortly thereafter.
