In a move that challenges electoral arithmetic as much as it tests political goodwill, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday announced former businessman Santrupt Mishra and urologist Dateshwar Hota as candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Odisha despite having enough numbers to field just one MP.
Four Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha will fall vacant after the term of BJP MPs Sujit Kumar and Mamata Mohanta, and BJP MPs Niranjan Bichi and Mozibula Khan alias Mona Khan, ends.
BJD chief Naveen Patnaik has nominated businessman-turned-politician Santhropet Misra for the third seat and urologist Dr Dateshwar Hota for the fourth seat, while making a clarion call to all political parties to support Hota as a “joint candidate”. With the support of 79 MLAs and three MLAs, the BJP can comfortably get two seats with a surplus of 20 votes. The BJP, which received 50 votes, can get one seat with 20 votes remaining. The fourth seat becomes the crucible in which ambitions collide.
Dr. Hota is the founder Vice-Chancellor of Odisha University of Health Sciences and former Director of SCB Medical College and Hospital. Santrupt Misra’s nomination for the third, safer seat was almost certain given his closeness to Patnaik. Misra joined the BJD ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and contested from Cuttack, where he was defeated. After the 2024 loss, it was announced that he would be appointed political secretary to the former prime minister, suggesting that Patnaik continues to look beyond the traditional political class.
Political analyst Rabi Das said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has limited incentive to save a major rival from its numerical disadvantage. “This attempt by Naveen Patnaik is as much a message to his ranks as it is to the opposition that the BJP may be diminished but will not be dismantled,” he said.
