Debashish Samantaray Elected Unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Odisha
Debashish Samantaray has been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha, marking a significant political shift in the state.
Samantaray, who was earlier elected as a BJD member in April 2024 with a tenure until 2030, resigned from both the party and his parliamentary seat on May 25, 2026, citing differences.
The following day, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which nominated him for the vacant seat.
With no other candidate filing nominations, election officials declared his victory unopposed.
This by‑poll fills the vacancy created by his resignation and underscores the BJP’s growing influence in Odisha’s political landscape.
