BJD Leader Hopeful Of Rajya Sabha Seat

Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader and five-time MLA Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik is hoping that his party supremo will nominate him to Rajya Sabha.

Talking to the media on Saturday, the veteran leader said that prior to the Assembly elections, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had assured of nominating him to the upper house. But he has decided to support the BJP candidate, Ashwini Vaishnab as Rajya Sabha member from Odisha for the larger interest of the state, which is most welcome.

“I was hopeful for the Rajya Sabha seat and am waiting for a call from the Chief Minister. Since four Rajya Sabha seats of Odisha will fall vacant after 10 months, I hope that the Chief Minister will keep his promise. I am a disciplined party member and have sincerely discharged my duty,” Ramesh said.

Notably, the BJD supremo had replaced Ramesh with Bikram Panda as the party candidate to contest the Berhampur Assembly seat with a promise to nominate him to Rajya Sabha.