Bhubaneswar, June 4:The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Odisha has named Debashish Samantaray to nominate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election from the state, scheduled for June 18.
With it Samantray, following his dramatic exit from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), resignation as MP Rajya Sabha and subsequent induction into the saffron party, is going to resecure his position in the coveted Upper House.
Samantaray, who resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the BJD last Tuesday, joined the BJP in New Delhi in the presence of senior party leaders, triggering intense political speculation over his immediate return to the Upper House with BJP support.
The Rajya Sabha seat from Odisha fell vacant after Samantaray’s resignation. The Election Commission on the day announced a by-election on June 18 to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term ending April 3, 2030.
