Bhubaneswar: Political circles in Odisha are abuzz with speculation following a high-profile meeting between senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Dilip Ray and state Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
The encounter has fuelled intense chatter about Ray’s possible nomination for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from the state, where four seats are set to fall vacant in April.
The meeting, described by sources as cordial and focused on regional development issues in Rourkela, has been interpreted by many as a strategic signal amid the evolving political arithmetic for the biennial polls. With the Election Commission of India initiating preparations for the Rajya Sabha elections across multiple states, including Odisha, the contest for the Upper House seats has gained momentum.
Odisha’s four retiring Rajya Sabha members will create vacancies, but the real intrigue centres on the fourth seat. The BJP and BJD are positioned to comfortably secure the first three seats based on t
heir respective strengths in the state Assembly following the 2024 elections. However, the first preference vote required for 4th seat is not in favour of any one single party, opening the door for strategic alliances, cross-voting, or independent support.
Dilip Ray, a veteran politician with deep roots in Odisha politics, is emerging as a strong contender for this seat.
The former Union Minister of Steel and Coal has previously served two terms in Rajya Sabha (1996–2002 and 2002–2008). His 2002 victory as an independent, after being refused renomination and subsequent expulsion from BJD, was dramatic, with nearly 15 MLAs from his former party reportedly cross-voting in his favour in a rare instance of internal rebellion during Naveen Patnaik’s early tenure as Chief Minister. The BJP also came to his rescue with six second preference votes.
Ray’s cross-party appeal and established connections make him a potential “consensus candidate” capable of garnering residual votes from both the BJP and BJD after the first three seats are filled.
Analysts note that Ray’s political stature and ability to bridge divides position him as a front-runner—unless the Congress fields a highly resourceful candidate to disrupt the equation. The outcome will hinge largely on the BJD’s internal deliberations and its approach to the fourth seat, as well as any behind-the-scenes negotiations between the BJP and other parties.