BJP hints at fielding three candidates for Rajya Sabha election from Odisha

BJP aims to secure three Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha, despite lacking the assembly numbers for a third candidate.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday (February 13, 2026) exuded confidence that the party would send three out of four seats from the Odisha quota to Rajya Sabha next month.

The tenure of four Rajya Sabha members of Odisha is coming to an end on April 2 this year. However, the BJP does not have the requisite numbers in the State Assembly to ensure the election of a third candidate to the Upper House of Parliament.

In the 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly, the BJP has 79 MLAs, followed by the Biju Janata Dal with 50, the Congress with 14, one member from the CPI(M), and three independents. The BJP currently enjoys the support of all three Independent MLAs.

A candidate requires first-preference votes of 31 MLAs to secure election to the Rajya Sabha. Given the present strength in the Assembly, the BJP and the BJD can comfortably ensure the election of two and one candidates, respectively. It requires political manoeuvring by either BJP or BJD to ensure the election of their candidate.

Vijay Singh Tomar, in-charge of BJP party affairs for Odisha, on Friday (February 13, 2026) told reporters, “we are confident of sending three Rajya Sabha members from Odisha. Party’s Parliamentary Committee will take a call as to who would be their candidates.”

There are 10 Rajya Sabha MPs from Odisha — seven from the BJD and three from the BJP. The tenure of BJD MPs Niranjan Bishi and Muzibulla Khan and BJP MPs Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar will end on April 2.