Dilip Ray announces Rajya Sabha bid as independent candidate, Odisha BJP extends support

Senior leader Dilip Ray declared on Tuesday that he will contest the Rajya Sabha election as an independent candidate. Speaking over the phone to OTV, Ray confirmed his decision and stated that he would file his nomination on March 5.

Also Read: Odisha Rajya Sabha election: BJP names Manmohan Samal, Sujeet Kumar as candidates

Ray said discussions have already been held with both Central and State leadership before taking the step. His entry has intensified the contest for the crucial fourth Rajya Sabha seat in Odisha.

Meanwhile, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal has asserted that the party will extend its support on principle to the candidature of Dilip Ray to Rajya Sabha.

The contest is shaping up as a direct battle between Dilip Ray and Datteshwar Hota, who has been named as a joint candidate of the Biju Janata Dal and Indian National Congress. After BJD president Naveen Patnaik proposed Hota as the common candidate, the Congress extended its support.

Dilip Ray, considered a seasoned political figure, had earlier secured a Rajya Sabha berth by outmanoeuvring the BJD. With his re-entry into the fray, political discussions have intensified over who will ultimately clinch the fourth seat — Dilip Ray or Datteshwar Hota.

“I will file nomination on the 5th (of March) as an independent candidate for Rajya Sabha,” Dilip Ray said. When asked if he had any discussions with BJP leaders or other political parties about how to get their support, he stated, “Discussions are going on. I have just decided, and I will be talking to everyone immediately now.”

Dilip Ray is holding discussions both at the State level and the New Delhi level. He claimed that he is still with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“I decided to join the fray as an independent candidate today, and I will discuss it afterward. I am to file my nomination the day after tomorrow,” the senior leader expressed.

Worth mentioning, earlier in the day, the BJP announced the names of Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar as its candidates from Odisha. The declaration was made by the party’s central committee, finalising their candidature for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The announcement is seen as a strategic move by the BJP as it gears up for a crucial political contest. Central party leaders expressed confidence in both candidates, highlighting their experience and organisational strength.