By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Odisha (polling on March 16, 2026) involve four seats, with nominations already filed. There are five candidates in the fray:
BJP: Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar (both expected to win comfortably due to BJP’s strength).
BJD: Santrupt Misra (likely secure as BJD’s primary candidate).
Jointly supported by BJD-Congress-CPI(M): Dr. Datteswar Hota (eminent urologist, former principal of SCB Medical College, and founding Vice-Chancellor of Odisha University of Health Sciences; positioned as a “common” or “joint” non-partisan candidate).
Independent (backed by BJP): Dilip Ray (former minister, contesting for the fourth seat).
The Odisha Assembly has 147 MLAs (plus some independents supporting BJP). The quota for one Rajya Sabha seat is around 30 votes (based on standard calculations). BJP has about 79 MLAs + 3 independents (total ~82, enough for two seats but short for three). BJD has around 48 MLAs (enough for one seat with some surplus). Congress has 14. Neither side has a clear majority for all seats alone, so the fourth seat is the real contest between Dr. Hota and Dilip Ray.
In Rajya Sabha elections (unlike no confidence motions or key legislative votes), parties cannot formally issue a binding whip under the anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule). Issuing a whip for such elections could be invalid or lead to issues, as these are not considered “integral policy” votes where defection rules strictly apply in the same way. Members vote via secret ballot, and cross-voting or conscience voting is possible without automatic disqualification risks like in floor votes.
This means MLAs from supporting parties (BJD, Congress, CPI(M) for Hota) are not legally forced to vote for him—it’s based on party directions, moral persuasion, meetings, and political pressure, but not enforceable via whip/disqualification.
Does this make it difficult for Dr. Datteswar Hota? Not necessarily “difficult” in a prohibitive sense, but it does introduce some uncertainty and risk:
On paper, it’s advantageous: Combined BJD (~48) + Congress (14) + CPI(M) (likely 1) gives a solid base (around 63+ votes), well above the quota needed for the fourth seat.
Naveen Patnaik has publicly appealed for support, and leaders like Bhakta Charan Das (Odisha Congress chief) have confirmed backing, even calling it a significant step. Hota has met Congress MLAs to build consensus.
Potential challenges: Without a binding whip, there’s always a possibility of cross-voting (e.g., some Congress or BJD MLAs voting for Dilip Ray or abstaining due to personal equations, local pressures, or BJP outreach). BJP is aggressively backing Ray to try for three seats, and observers note cross-voting can’t be ruled out. The secret ballot adds to the unpredictability.
Overall outlook: The joint support is strong and publicly committed, and Hota is portrayed as a respected, “pure Odiya” non-partisan figure to encourage votes across lines. Political analysts see it as a close but winnable fight for him, with the BJD-Congress understanding aimed precisely at blocking BJP from sweeping the fourth seat.
In short, the lack of a formal whip adds a layer of risk (as in any Rajya Sabha poll), but the explicit alliance and numbers make it far from “difficult” — it’s more of a strategic contest where discipline relies on trust and coordination rather than compulsion. The outcome will depend on how effectively the alliance holds in the secret ballot.
