By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), led by party president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on Saturday announced its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Odisha. The elections are scheduled for March 16, 2026, with four seats vacant in the state.
Naveen Patnaik declared two nominees:
Dr. Santrupt Misra: A senior BJD leader from Cuttack and former corporate executive. He previously contested the Lok Sabha elections from Cuttack in 2024. He is positioned as the party’s official candidate for one of the seats (likely the third seat, considered assured for BJD based on its current assembly strength of around 48 MLAs).
Dr. Datteswar Hota : A renowned urologist and eminent medical professional from Odisha. He served as the first Vice Chancellor of the Odisha Health University and was previously the Principal of SCB Medical College in Cuttack. Patnaik has fielded him as a “common candidate” for the fourth seat, appealing to all political parties (including the ruling BJP and others) to support and elect him to the Rajya Sabha unanimously.
Patnaik emphasized in his announcement that Dr. Hota’s nomination is intended as a consensus choice, urging cross-party support to send him to the Upper House. When asked about the prospects of both winning, he expressed optimism, stating he is “always hopeful.”
This announcement comes amid intense political activity in Odisha following the Election Commission’s notification for the biennial polls. The BJP (ruling in the state) is expected to secure at least two seats based on its majority, while BJD aims for at least one assured seat, with the fourth remaining competitive and open to potential alliances or cross-voting.
