Bhubaneswar, June 11: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Debashish Samantaray was on Thursday elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha after being the sole contender in the by-election for the Upper House seat.
The Election Commission officially declared Samantaray elected, confirming his entry into the Rajya Sabha without the need for voting.
Samantaray had filed his nomination papers earlier this week as the BJP nominee.
With no other candidate entering the fray before the deadline, the Returning Officer declared him elected unopposed in accordance with the election rules.
The by-election was necessitated following a vacancy in Odisha's Rajya Sabha representation. Samantaray's unopposed victory further strengthens the BJP's presence in the Upper House from the state.
