Bhubaneswar, February 26 (NationPress) Following the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha elections, the three primary political parties in Odisha—the ruling BJP, the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and the Congress—are intensifying their efforts to secure candidates for the four vacant seats.

In response to the Rajya Sabha election notification, Manmohan Samal, President of the BJP’s Odisha unit, stated that the party is poised to finalize its candidates and strategy soon.

“With the notification now out, we will deliberate within our party and formulate our strategy accordingly. Candidates will be revealed at the appropriate time,” Samal mentioned.

Addressing the speculation surrounding the fourth seat and potential outside candidates, he remarked, “There is a significant amount of conjecture, but the party will arrive at a definitive decision. Any conclusions regarding this will be made by the Parliamentary Party in conjunction with the central leadership.”

Meanwhile, the key Opposition BJD’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC), which comprises 10 members and is led by party president Naveen Patnaik, is set to convene later today to discuss their candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections.

On Thursday, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das informed reporters that he would soon head to New Delhi to confer with the party's higher-ups regarding potential candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections. He stated that the party aims to announce its candidate by February 28.

Importantly, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday revealed the timeline for the biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across ten states, including Odisha, where four seats will become vacant in April 2026 due to the retirement of current members.

During a media briefing, the Returning Officer and Secretary of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Satyabrata Rout, confirmed that the election notification was issued on February 26.

“The election process will adhere strictly to the guidelines established by the Election Commission of India as well as the provisions outlined in the Handbook for Returning Officers. All necessary arrangements have been implemented to guarantee a smooth and transparent voting process,” Rout indicated.

The four Rajya Sabha members from Odisha retiring on April 2 this year include Mamata Mahanta and Sujeet Kumar from the BJP, along with Muzibulla Khan and Niranjan Bishi from the BJD.

The Election Commission of India has set forth the schedule for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections.

The notification was issued on Thursday, with the final date for filing nominations set for March 5, 2026.

Nomination scrutiny will occur on March 6 at 11:30 AM, while the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy is March 9 by 3:00 PM.

Rout also detailed that if a poll becomes necessary, it will be conducted on March 16 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Room No. 54, Assembly Buildings, Bhubaneswar, with the vote counting scheduled for the same day at 5:00 PM. The entire election process is projected to conclude by March 20.