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BJP-backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray secured a Rajya Sabha seat from Odisha after cross-voting by BJD and Congress MLAs. Three BJP nominees were also elected, marking a major political moment in the state.
Dilip Ray Wins Odisha Rajya Sabha Seat with Cross-Voting Support
Bhubaneswar: Depending on cross-voting by MLAs from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress, BJP backed independent candidate Dilip Ray was elected to the Rajya Sabha for a third term today.
Ray contested the election as an Independent candidate backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, and his victory was made possible with crucial support from legislators belonging to the Biju Janata Dal and the Indian National Congress.
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Along with Ray, three other candidates backed by the BJP were elected to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha. These include Manmohan Samal, Sujeet Kumar, and Santrupt Mishra.
The results mark an important development in Odisha’s political landscape ahead of future electoral contests.
Ray’s victory is widely being viewed as a political setback for Naveen Patnaik, who had reportedly made strong efforts to prevent the former Union minister from returning to the Upper House. Despite those efforts, Ray managed to secure support across party lines, enabling him to win the seat.
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Ray’s election is also significant because it echoes a similar political moment from more than two decades ago. He had previously entered the Rajya Sabha race as an Independent supported by the BJP and had succeeded in securing a seat.
With his latest victory, Ray has once again demonstrated his ability to garner support beyond party boundaries in Odisha politics.
