Naveen Patnaik names four candidates for Rajya Sabha polls 

Subash Singh, Chairperson Odisha Construction Workers Welfare Board, Munna Khan, Advisor Minority Affairs, Sujit Kumar, Advisor Special Development Council and Mamata Mahato of Mahila Wing of BJD of Mayurbhanja District will be the BJD candidate for the Rajya Sabha, Mr Patnaik said.

While one seat fell vacant after Anubhav Mohanty was elected, to Lok Sabha during the last general elections, the term of Mr Narendra Kumar Swain, Ms Sarojini Hembram all from BJD and Mr Ranjib Biswal (Congress) will end on April 2 next.

BJD which has 113 members in the 147 member house can elect three members to the Upper house without any support from any party..

The party has to depend upon other members to elect the fourth candidate to Rajya Sabha.

The Congress party which has only nine members in the state Assembly will not be able to file party candidate as the lone CPI(M) member in the Assembly decided not to support any candidate in the election.

A candidate needs the support of a minimum 10 members to file the nominations.

BJP which has 23 members cannot elect a member to the upper house without the support of other members in the house as its candidate needs the support of 29 members to be elected to the Upper house.

Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha has issued notification for the election.

As per the notification, the last date for filing nominations is March 13. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on March 16 next and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 18.

Elections for four seats will be held on March 26 from 9 AM till 0400 PM and counting of votes will be done on the same day at 5 PM. The election process shall be completed by March 30, 2020.