Ex-BJD MP Mamata Mahanta Files Nomination, Set To Return To Rajya Sabha From BJP

Bhubaneswar: Mamata Mahanta filed nominations for Rajya Sabha by-election before the returning officer in the Odisha Assembly in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, BJP state unit president Manmohan Samal and Odisha in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar. 

Putting all speculation to rest, the BJP on Tuesday nominated Mamata for the seat from Odisha, which fell vacant after she resigned from the Upper House to which she was sent by the then ruling BJD on April 3, 2020, with 18 months left for the end of her 6-year term. The tribal leader from Kudumi community of Mayurbhanj district also quit the regional party on July 31 citing neglect and joined the BJP a day later.

Mamata is almost certain to return to Rajya Sabha after 4 years and 4 month tenure in the Upper House from BJD since the BJP has 78 MLAs in the 147-member Assembly and also the support of three Independent MLAs. The BJD and the Congress have 51 and 14 MLAs respectively. Along with one CPM member, the Opposition does not have the numbers to corner the seat.

She will serve the remaining 20 months of her tenure in RS from the BJP, which so far had only one member in the Upper House from Odisha – Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was elected earlier this year with support from the BJD.

Election for the 12 vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha including the lone seat from Odisha will be held on September 3.