Odisha Rajya Sabha Election 2026: Five Valid Nominations, Ray vs Hota in Key Contest
Bhubaneswar: The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha have taken a decisive turn with five nominations declared valid after scrutiny on March 6, 2026.
Out of six submissions, one was rejected, leaving a high-stakes contest for the fourth seat.
The valid candidates include BJP’s state president Manmohan Samal, BJP’s Sujit Kumar, BJD’s Santrupt Mishra, independent candidate Dilip Ray, and common candidate Dr Datteshwar Hota.
Telangana’s Kante Sayana’s nomination was disqualified during verification.
The spotlight now falls on the contest between Dilip Ray, backed by the BJP, and Dr Datteshwar Hota, supported jointly by the BJD and Congress.
The Congress party, in a strategic move, refrained from fielding its own candidate and instead extended support to Hota, signalling a temporary understanding with the BJD.
Speaking to the media, Dilip Ray reflected on his sudden entry into the fray, contrasting it with his 2002 campaign, where he had two months of preparation.
He expressed hope that legislators would vote according to their conscience.
The election timeline is as follows:
- Last date for filing nominations: March 5
- Scrutiny of papers: March 6
- Withdrawal deadline: March 9
- Voting: March 16 (9 am–4 pm)
- Counting: March 16 (5 pm)
With alliances shifting and stakes high, Odisha’s Rajya Sabha elections promise to be a closely watched political battle.
