By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: In 2002 Rajya Sabha elections, as many as 6 BJP MLAs were expelled for voting to Independent Dilip Ray.
Indeed , that’s a striking irony in Odisha’s political history, highlighting how alliances, personal loyalties, and circumstances can flip dramatically over time.
Those MLAs who were suspended then included Gourahari Nayak, Bhanu Chandra Nayak, Laxman Soren, Surendra Kanhar, Padma Charan Haiburu and Purusottam Nayak.
While 3 Congress MLAs suspended that included Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Mamata Madhi and Kartik Mohapatra.
In 2026, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and State President Manmohan Samal announced open support to Dilip Ray.
In the 2002 Rajya Sabha elections from Odisha (biennial polls for seats falling vacant), Dilip Ray—then a prominent leader who had served as Union Minister for Coal and Steel in the NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee—was expelled from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The expulsion stemmed from his decision to contest as an independent after being denied a party ticket or due to internal rifts with Naveen Patnaik’s leadership.
Despite the expulsion (or perhaps because of it), Ray won the seat as an independent through significant cross-voting. He received crucial support from MLAs of multiple parties, including a substantial number from the BJD (reports suggest around 14-15 BJD MLAs defied the whip), as well as some from the BJP and others.
The quota was around 29 votes (based on the assembly strength at the time, with 143 MLAs voting). Ray reportedly got 22 first-preference votes and picked up additional second-preference ones to edge out the Congress candidate.
The BJP, which was then in alliance with the BJD in Odisha (as part of the broader NDA at the center), viewed this cross-voting—especially any involvement by its own MLAs—as anti-party activity. As a result:
The Odisha BJP unit expelled several of its MLAs who had proposed or supported Ray’s nomination.
These expelled BJP MLAs even announced plans to form a separate group in the assembly shortly after.
The expulsions were later partially revoked in 2003 for at least four of them after discussions with central leadership.
In 2002, the BJP punished its own MLAs for helping Dilip Ray win against the party line (which aligned with BJD interests at the time).
The 2026 Flip: Same BJP Now Backing Dilip Ray
Fast-forward to the current 2026 polls for the four seats (voting on March 16). The political landscape has reversed:
The BJP is now the ruling party in Odisha (with 79 MLAs + allies). Dilip Ray, who joined the BJP later in his career (after stints in Janata Dal, BJD, and brief Congress links), is again contesting as an independent for the “fourth seat.”
This time, the BJP is explicitly backing him, directing surplus votes his way after securing its two official seats (Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar).
The BJD (now in opposition, with effective 48 votes) is supporting Dr. Datteswar Hota as the common opposition candidate.
Ray’s campaign leverages his old networks, and the two recently suspended BJD MLAs (Arvind Mohapatra and Santan Mahakud) have pledged support to him—mirroring how he once drew cross-votes from BJD.
This creates the irony you pointed out: The same BJP that suspended/expelled its MLAs in 2002 for supporting Ray is now actively encouraging support for him to deny the opposition an extra seat.
Why the Change?
Power dynamics: In 2002, BJP was a junior ally to BJD in Odisha and prioritized coalition stability at the center/state. Ray’s rebellion threatened that.
Today, BJP is dominant in Odisha, and backing Ray (a veteran with cross-party appeal in western Odisha) helps consolidate influence and potentially weaken the BJD further.
Ray’s personal brand: His history of winning via cross-voting in 2002 makes him a proven “disruptor” the BJP now wants on its side.
This episode underscores how fluid Odisha politics can be, with the same figures and tactics reappearing in reversed roles. Many observers call it a “déjà vu” or “dramatic comeback” for Ray, and it could decide whether the BJP sweeps three seats or the opposition alliance holds onto one. As of now (early March 2026), lobbying continues, and any cross-voting could swing it.
The 2026 Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha involve four seats becoming vacant on April 2, 2026, following the end of terms for sitting MPs: Niranjan Bishi and Muzibulla Khan (BJD), and Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar (BJP). Odisha has 10 Rajya Sabha seats in total, and these biennial polls are conducted via indirect voting by the 147 members of the Odisha Legislative Assembly using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. The quota required to win each seat is 30 first-preference votes (calculated as floor(147 / (4 seats + 1)) + 1 = 30).
The elections have turned competitive, particularly for what is being referred to as the “fourth seat”—the one beyond the straightforward wins based on party strengths. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which holds a majority in the assembly, is aiming for three seats, while the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is pushing for two.
The contest for this marginal fourth seat has narrowed to a head-to-head between two independent candidates: former Union Minister Dilip Ray (backed by the BJP) and Dr Datteswar Hota (a urologist backed by the BJD, Congress, and CPI(M)). Nominations closed on March 5, 2026, and voting is scheduled for March 16, 2026, making this a high-stakes battle reliant on potential cross-voting.
Party Strengths in the Odisha Assembly
The current composition of the 147-seat Odisha Legislative Assembly (as of March 2026) is as follows, based on the 2024 election results and subsequent changes:
BJP: 79 MLAs (majority party, forming the government under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi).
BJD: 50 MLAs originally, but effectively commands 48 after suspending two MLAs (Arvind Mohapatra from Patkura and Santan Mahakud from Champua) on charges of anti-party activities. These suspended MLAs are free agents and have reportedly pledged support to Dilip Ray.
Congress: 14 MLAs.
CPI(M): 1 MLA.
Independents: 3 MLAs, all of whom align with the BJP on key votes.
