4th Rajya Sabha seat in Odisha: BJP and BJD lock horns over numbers and strategy

The political atmosphere in Odisha intensified over the contest for the fourth seat in the Rajya Sabha. The issue sparked a sharp confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday.

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Senior BJD leader Arun Sahoo criticised the BJP, questioning how the party is attempting to win a Rajya Sabha seat despite lacking the required numbers in the State Assembly. He also raised concerns about the message such a move could send about democratic practices.

“I don't know how the BJP is assessing this. They don't have the numbers to win with three candidates. That is, they don't have enough MLAs. If, despite that, they are claiming to win, is this a healthy democracy? Do you believe that this is a democratic process, a constitutional system, and includes morality in India?” the BJD leader said.

“If principles and morality are sacrificed, if you sacrifice the constitutional legal system, if you undermine the glory of democracy, then they will have a chance to win. Therefore, if they win, it will be an attack on democracy, disrespect for the constitution,” Arun Sahoo stated.

Responding to the criticism, the saffron camp recalled past political decisions made by the BJD. The party questioned whether the BJD had sufficient numbers when it sent late leader Pyari Mohan Mohapatra to the Rajya Sabha in the past, and asked on what basis the party had fielded its candidate during those days.

BJP MLA Babu Singh stated that Independent candidate Dilip Ray could receive the support since there is no party whip in the Rajya Sabha elections. The political tug-of-war over the fourth seat continues to intensify as parties position themselves ahead of the vote.

“These statements and discourses are coming from the BJD – ask them, when Pyari Mohan Mohapatra and Baishnab Charan Parida went, how did Baishnab Parida win without their party having the numbers?” the BJP MLA questioned.

“They are doing all this arithmetic now, saying the BJP is in power. But their own party was in power then; how did Baishnab Parida go to the Rajya Sabha under their government? They didn't have the numbers back then. Ask them where that profound wisdom they are imparting today was at that time,” Babu Singh expressed.

“Therefore, for the BJD, everything is possible. When it suits them – Nabin Babu (Naveen Patnaik), I wouldn't say this about the BJD – but for Nabin Babu, whatever is possible, he can do everything for his own seat. But that is not right in politics,” the BJP MLA added.