Finance
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced two candidates for the Upper House from Odisha on Tuesday, amid increased political activity in the state ahead of the 2018 Rajya Sabha elections. The party’s Central Election Committee has nominated Manmohan Samal, the state BJP president, and Sujeet Kumar, a Rajya Sabha MP.
The announcement has sparked political debate in the state capital, as parties continue to plan for the biennial elections.
Sujeet Kumar came at the state BJP headquarters in Bhubaneswar shortly after declaring his candidacy, when he was enthusiastically welcomed by party workers and leaders. Supporters marked the occasion by distributing sweets and expressing confidence in his triumph.
Speaking to reporters, Sujeet Kumar thanked the BJP’s national leadership for believing in him. He stated that he will continue to endeavor to develop the party and raise issues concerning Odisha in the Rajya Sabha.
With the BJP’s present numerical strength in the Odisha Assembly, Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar are expected to win comfortably. However, political circles are still debating whether the party will run a third candidate for the last seat. There has been no formal declaration in this regard so far.
The Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha are expected to change the state’s political landscape in the following weeks.
