Notification Issued For Polls To RS Seat From Odisha; Toss-Up Between Mamata & Manmohan?

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar:  The formal notification for election to the one vacant Rajya Sabha seat in Odisha was issued on Wednesday, marking the beginning of the process for filing of nomination.

The lone seat from Odisha will go to polls along with 11 other vacant seats from nine states on September 3. The last date for filing of nomination is August 21 and the scrutiny will be held on August 22. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is August 27.

The BJP, which presently has 87 members in the Upper House, is likely to gain four seats at the cost of the Congress, the RJD and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

The seat From Odisha fell vacant following the resignation of BJD Rajya Sabha member Mamata Mahanta on July 31 two years before completion of her tenure. She was elected to the Rajya Sabha on April 3, 2020. The OBC leader from Mayurbhanj also quit the regional party and joined the BJP on August 1.

The BJP, which has one member in the upper House from Odisha – Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was elected earlier this year with support from the BJD, is set to bag this vacant seat because of its strength in the Odisha Assembly.

While names of several leaders are being discussed for filling the vacant RS seat, political observers are of the view that the saffron party may repeat Mamata, a prominent leader of Kudumi community, in view of the current political scenario. Since she quit from both Rajya Sabha and BJD, alleging neglect by Naveen Patnaik-led regional party, the BJP might attempt to win the trust of Kudumi community by nominating her to Rajya Sabha again.

Also Read: Will Mamata Mahanta Again Go To Rajya Sabha From Odisha?

Political circles have also been agog with speculation that the BJP may send party’s state president Manmohan Samal to the Rajya Sabha so that he could be accommodated in the union council of ministers, considering his contribution to the party’s win in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, and accommodate Mamata in some organisational post.

While the BJP stormed to power in Odisha by securing 78 seats in the assembly, the party’s state unit president Manmohan Samal suffered defeat in Chandbali segment to BJD’s Byomakesh Ray by a margin of 1,916 votes.

Also Read: Odisha BJP Rebuffs ‘Political Conspiracy’ In Mamata Mahanta’s Resignation Amid Manmohan Samal In RS Buzz

Names of former BJP president Samir Mohanty and former Union Minister Bisweshwar Tudu are also doing the rounds.

The BJP is likely to take a decision and declare its nominee in the next two days, sources said.