BJP Wins 3 of 4 Rajya Sabha Seats in Odisha; Cross-Voting Changes Outcome

Bhubaneswar | March 16, 2026

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strengthened its position in Odisha’s representation in the Rajya Sabha after a closely contested election held on Monday.

Out of the four seats from the state, the BJP and its supported Independent candidate won three seats, while the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) managed to secure only one seat.

The election was held at the Odisha Assembly in Bhubaneswar, where all 147 MLAs cast their votes.

BJP Candidates Secure Comfortable Wins

The BJP had fielded two candidates:

• Manmohan Samal, Odisha BJP president

• Sujit Kumar, sitting Rajya Sabha MP

Both candidates were elected successfully.

Samal’s victory is notable as he returns to the Rajya Sabha after more than 20 years.

Dilip Ray Wins Fourth Seat

The most intense contest was for the fourth seat.

Independent candidate Dilip Ray, who was backed by the BJP, defeated the joint BJD-Congress candidate Dr. Datteshwar (Dattatreya) Hota.

Ray, a former Union Minister and well-known figure in Odisha politics, secured victory after cross-voting by several MLAs reportedly changed the outcome.

BJD Retains One Seat

The BJD secured one seat through Santrupt Misra, a senior party leader and former corporate executive.

His victory ensures that the regional party continues to have representation from Odisha in the Upper House of Parliament.

Cross-Voting Plays Key Role

The election result was heavily influenced by cross-voting.

Reports suggest that around 11 MLAs voted against their party lines, including some from the BJD and Congress.

This helped Dilip Ray gain enough support to win the final seat.

Naveen Patnaik Alleges Horse-Trading

After the results were announced, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik accused the BJP of horse-trading during the election.

He alleged that some MLAs were influenced to vote against their parties and criticised the conduct of the election.

The BJP rejected these allegations, saying the result reflected support across party lines.

Political Impact

The result is seen as a major political boost for the BJP government led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

It also highlights the changing political balance in Odisha, nearly two years after the BJP formed the government in the 2024 Assembly elections.

The newly elected members are expected to take their seats in the Rajya Sabha from April 2026.