Bhubaneswar: The absence of two MLAs from a key Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting has cast a shadow over the prospects of Dr Datteswar Hota securing the Rajya Sabha seat as a “common candidate” backed by both the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress.
The CLP meeting was convened on Monday to discuss election strategy and ensure unified support for Dr Hota ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for March 16, 2026. Congress has 14 MLAs in the Odisha Assembly, and their votes are crucial to cross the required majority threshold in the four-seat contest, especially amid fears of cross-voting in the secret ballot system.
However, the meeting exposed internal divide as two Congress MLAs— Sofia Firdous (Cuttack-Barabati) and Ramesh Chandra Jena (Sanakhemundi) — skipped the session. The day also witnessed high drama as senior MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati refused to attend the meeting at the residence of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ramachandra Kadam. The meeting was later shifted to a private hotel in the capital city.
These incidents have fuelled perceptions of a “divided house” within the party over backing Dr Hota, a urologist, former principal of SCB Medical College, and the founding vice-chancellor of Odisha University of Health Sciences.
Dr Hota, who attended the CLP meeting, expressed confidence that Congress legislators would extend their support and give him an opportunity to be elected to the Upper House. He appears to have a numerical edge if the BJD–Congress equation holds firm. However, the final outcome will hinge on last-minute alignments and internal party cohesion.
The ruling BJP’s decision to contest three seats and its move to collect nomination papers for all four has added to the speculation over cross-voting, strategic alliances or a broader political calculation.
Speaking to the media, OPCC president Bhakta Das said: “He had earlier met us, and today he came as the first candidate seeking our support. We welcomed him and listened to his views.”
The Number Game
In the 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly, the BJP has 79 MLAs and the support of three Independents, giving it an effective strength of 82 votes. The BJD’s tally stands at 48 following the suspension of two of its legislators last month. The Congress has 14 MLAs, and the CPI(M) has one.
The BJP is comfortably positioned to win two seats. After securing those, it would have about 22 surplus votes, eight short of the threshold needed for a third seat on its own. The BJD, after electing one member, would be left with 19 surplus votes and the Opposition expects that with the support of Congress and CPI(M), Hota can survive the electoral battle.
