Bhubaneswar: The Rajya Sabha elections from Odisha witnessed dramatic political developments on Monday as senior leader and BJP backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray secured a surprise victory for the fourth seat, defeating BJD supported candidate Dr Datteswar Hota after cross voting by several legislators altered the expected electoral arithmetic.
The election results saw the BJP winning three of the four seats from the state, while the Biju Janata Dal managed to secure one seat. Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal and sitting MP Sujeet Kumar won comfortably as BJP candidates, while BJD nominee Santrupt Misra was elected from the party’s quota. The fourth seat turned into a closely fought contest between Ray and Hota.
Under the Rajya Sabha election formula, a candidate from Odisha requires at least 30 first preference votes to secure a seat. Although the BJP had the strength to comfortably win two seats with its 82 MLAs including support from a few Independents, it fell short of the numbers required to secure a third seat outright. However, cross voting by MLAs from other parties helped Ray turn the contest in his favour.
Both Ray and Hota reportedly received 23 first preference votes each, pushing the election into the counting of second preference votes. The final outcome tilted towards Ray after several legislators voted against their party lines. Sources indicated that around ten MLAs including members from the BJD and Congress supported the BJP backed candidate, defying party whips issued to them.
Among those who allegedly cross voted were Congress MLAs Ramesh Jena from Sanakhemundi, Dasarathi Gomanga from Mohana and Sofia Firdous from Barabati Cuttack. Several BJD legislators including Chakramani Kanhar of Baliguda, Souvic Biswal of Choudwar Cuttack, Subasini Jena of Basta, Ramakanta Bhoi of Tirtol, Devi Ranjan Tripathy of Banki and Naba Kishor Mallick of Jayadev were also reported to have voted for Ray. In addition, two suspended BJD MLAs Sanatan Mahakud of Champua and Arvind Mohapatra of Patkura supported his candidature.
The result drew attention amid allegations of cross voting and horse trading during the election. Political observers noted that the unexpected support changed the outcome that the BJD had initially hoped would favour Hota. After securing one seat comfortably, the BJD had around 18 surplus votes and expected to gather support from Congress and CPM legislators to ensure Hota’s victory. However, the plan did not materialise as multiple MLAs broke ranks during voting.
Ray’s victory is reminiscent of the 2002 Rajya Sabha election when he had also entered the Upper House as an Independent candidate with the help of cross voting. A seasoned politician from Odisha, Ray has had a long political career spanning both state and national politics. He served as an MLA in the Odisha Assembly in 1985 and 1990 and held the position of Industries Minister in the state government between 1990 and 1995.
He later entered national politics and was elected to the Lok Sabha, subsequently serving as Union Minister of State with independent charge in key ministries including Coal and Steel during the government led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Known to maintain cordial relations across party lines, Ray once again managed to secure victory despite the BJP falling short of the required numbers for a third seat.
Meanwhile, Manmohan Samal’s election to the Rajya Sabha marks his return to the Upper House after a gap of more than two decades and is seen as a major boost for the BJP’s influence from Odisha at the national level. Samal, who was re elected as the state BJP president in July 2025, played a crucial role in leading the party to its landmark victory in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections and its subsequent success in the Nuapada by election.
Sujeet Kumar, whose current Rajya Sabha tenure is ending in April, was renominated by the BJP after joining the party in September 2024 following his resignation from the Upper House and the BJD. His re election ensured continuity for the party in Parliament.
Santrupt Misra, the lone BJD candidate to win in the election, is a corporate professional turned politician who earlier served as political secretary to BJD president Naveen Patnaik. He had joined the party ahead of the 2024 general elections and had contested the Lok Sabha election from Cuttack but lost to BJP candidate Bhartruhari Mahatab.
The dramatic outcome of the Rajya Sabha polls has added a new dimension to Odisha’s political landscape, highlighting how cross voting and shifting loyalties within the Assembly can significantly influence the final results of parliamentary elections.
