Odisha Rajya Sabha Election 2026: BJD‑Congress vs BJP in High‑Stakes Contest
In a significant development ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, Odisha PCC chief Bhakta Charan Das and the joint BJD‑Congress candidate Dr Datteshwar Hota met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi to discuss strategy.
The Congress leadership is expected to issue strict instructions to its 14 MLAs to ensure unified voting, even though no legal whip is required in the Rajya Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, BJP candidate Dillip Ray is seen as a formidable contender, bolstered by Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to Odisha, where he reportedly provided strategic guidance.
Ray commands the support of 22 BJP MLAs and is actively seeking cross‑party backing.
Hota, however, claims to have secured 33 votes — 18 from BJD, 14 from Congress, and 1 from CPI(M) — surpassing the required 30 first‑preference votes.
Despite this numerical advantage, concerns remain about possible defections, with reports suggesting some BJD and Congress MLAs are in touch with the BJP.
The contest highlights the shifting alliances and intense political calculations in Odisha, where both camps are working to consolidate support ahead of the crucial vote.
