Dilip Ray Clinches Rajya Sabha Seat Amid Cross‑Voting Drama in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Industrialist and former Union Minister Dilip Ray has secured victory in the fourth Rajya Sabha seat from Odisha as an independent candidate backed by the BJP.

His win came after 11 opposition MLAs — eight from the BJD and three from Congress — defied party whips and cross‑voted in his favour.

The defections exposed cracks within both opposition parties, despite efforts by BJD chief Naveen Patnaik and Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das to maintain unity.

Notable BJD rebels included Debi Ranjan Tripathy, Souvic Biswal, Chakramani Kanhar, Subasini Jena, Naba Kishor Mallick, Ramakant Bhoi, and suspended MLAs Arabinda Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud.

Congress defectors were Sofia Firdous, Dasarathi Gamang, and Ramesh Jena.

With Ray’s victory, the BJP now holds three of the four Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha, alongside nominees Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar. BJD’s Santrupt Mishra won the remaining seat.

Analysts note that the outcome mirrors Ray’s 2002 Rajya Sabha win, also achieved through cross‑voting, and signals shifting loyalties in Odisha’s political landscape following the BJP’s rise to power.