BJD PAC Empowers Naveen Patnaik to Finalize Rajya Sabha Candidates in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) Political Affairs Committee (PAC) has authorised party president Naveen Patnaik to finalise the party’s candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The decision came after a PAC meeting where senior leaders discussed organisational strategies, student wing strengthening, and monthly campaigns to highlight the BJP government’s failures.

Speculation arose when BJD MP Sasmit Patra collected six sets of nomination forms, but party sources clarified they were only for gathering MLA signatures.

Farmer issues and ongoing protests also featured prominently in the discussions.

Senior leaders, including Debi Prasad Mishra, Sanjay Kumar Das Burma, Pranab Prakash Das, Niranjan Pujari, Bikram Keshari Arukha, and Sudam Marndi, attended the meeting, while MLA Tukuni Sahu was absent.

MLA Pramila Mallik emphasised that all candidate decisions rest solely with Naveen Patnaik, underscoring the party’s unity and trust in his leadership.

The official announcement of candidates is expected within the next two days.