‘Not in Rajya Sabha race’: Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal

Bringing an end to all the speculation, Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal on Friday informed that he is not in the race for Rajya Sabha.

According to Samal, the party parliament board will decide the candidate for Rajya Sabha election. He further said that whatever discussion is doing the round about his possibility to be selected from the party for the Rajya Sabha election is fictitious and the party parliament board will take a formal decision in this regard soon.

Notably, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has already announced by-election to six Rajya Sabha seats including one from Odisha. As per the announcement of ECI, the polls will be held on December 20.

Currently, there are six casual vacancies in the Council of States from four states following the resignation of members from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Haryana.

Read Also: ECI announces bypoll for 6 vacant Rajya Sabha seats including 1 in Odisha; polls on December 20

The one seat from Odisha is now vacant following the resignation of BJD leader Sujeet Kumar who later joined the BJP. Kumar had tendered his resignation from the Upper House in September.

Earlier, Mamata Mohanta, a leader from Mayurbhanj district, resigned from the Rajya Sabha and BJD. Later, she joined the BJP and was subsequently elected unopposed to the upper house.