Rajya Sabha Polls: BJD Extends Support As BJP Renominates Ashwini Vaishnaw From Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The election of BJP’s Ashwini Vaishnaw to Rajya Sabha from Odisha is now a foregone conclusion with BJD extending its support to his nomination as was the case during the former IAS officer’s election for the first term in 2019.

“Biju Janata Dal will support the candidature of Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister, Railways, Communication and Information and Technology, for the larger interest of State’s Railways and Telecom Development in the ensuing Election to Rajya Sabha – 2024,” the regional party said on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the BJP renominated Vaishnaw putting an end to suspense over the third candidate for Rajya Sabha from Odisha. Debashish Samantray and Subhasish Kuntia of BJD have already filed their nomination papers for the other two seats from the state.

The BJD has the required strength to win all three vacant RS seats, but BJP would need its support with only 22 MLAs in Odisha Assembly.

Also Read: Odisha To See Repeat Of 2019 As BJP Names Ashwini Vaishnaw As Its Rajya Sabha Candidate

Notably, Odisha got the highest railway allocations during Vaishnaw’s tenure. Cuttack station modernisation is going on with Rs 303 crore while Rs 197 crore has been sanctioned for Balasore station. Puri railway station is also being developed into a world-class facility. Vande Bharat Express was also started from Puri to Howrah with him at the helm. Vaishnaw has also sanctioned 5G launched and 7000 mobile towers for the state.