BJP's Debashish Samantaray elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Odisha
Synopsis
Just weeks after resigning from the BJD and joining the BJP, Debashish Samantaray has reclaimed his Rajya Sabha seat — this time under a rival banner. His unopposed election on 11 June caps a swift political realignment that cut the BJD's Upper House strength to five and handed the BJP a symbolic win in Odisha without a single vote being cast.
Key Takeaways
Debashish Samantaray (BJP) was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha on 11 June .
No rival candidate remained after the withdrawal deadline, making scheduled 18 June voting unnecessary.
Samantaray had resigned from the Rajya Sabha and BJD primary membership on 25 May , citing continuous sidelining within the party.
He joined the BJP on 26 May — just one day after his resignations.
His BJD exit reduced the regional party's Rajya Sabha strength to five members .
Samantaray is a three-time MLA , having represented Tirtol and Barabati-Cuttack constituencies between 2000 and 2019 .
Debashish Samantaray of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was on Thursday, 11 June elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha, after no rival candidate remained in the fray once the withdrawal deadline expired. The by-election had been called to fill the lone vacant Upper House seat from the state.
How the Unopposed Election Unfolded
Samantaray had filed his nomination at the Odisha State Assembly premises in Bhubaneswar on 5 June. Under the election schedule, nominations closed on 8 June and 11 June was the final date for withdrawal of candidature. With no other aspirant remaining after the deadline, the returning officer declared him elected without a contest. Voting and counting, originally scheduled for 18 June, were rendered unnecessary.
What Samantaray Said After His Election
Speaking after being declared elected, Samantaray said, 'I have been re-elected to the Rajya Sabha as a BJP candidate, so I extend my gratitude to BJP national president Nitin Navin, PM Modi, BJP state president Manmohan Samal and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. BJP welcomed me to the party, and I will work dedicatedly for the party. I will work to strengthen the party in every way I can and carry out the responsibilities entrusted to me by the party.'
The Political Journey Behind the Seat
The Rajya Sabha seat had been lying vacant since 25 May, when Samantaray resigned from Upper House membership. On the same day, he also quit the primary membership of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), writing to party supremo Naveen Patnaik and citing continuous sidelining within the organisation. His exit reduced the BJD's strength in the Rajya Sabha to five members.
Samantaray joined the ruling BJP on 26 May, just a day after his twin resignations. Notably, he is a three-time member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, having represented the Tirtol and Barabati-Cuttack constituencies across three terms between 2000 and 2019.
Significance for BJP and BJD in Odisha
The election reinforces the BJP's consolidation in Odisha following its rise to power in the state. For the BJD, Samantaray's departure and subsequent return to Parliament under a rival banner underscores the regional party's shrinking parliamentary footprint. This is the second high-profile exit from the BJD in recent months, reflecting internal pressures the party faces as it adjusts to opposition status after years in government.
With Samantaray now set to resume his Rajya Sabha role, attention will turn to the responsibilities the BJP assigns him in the Upper House and whether his switch accelerates further realignments in Odisha's political landscape.
Point of View
Which governed the state for over two decades, is now watching former loyalists re-enter Parliament under a rival banner. The party's Rajya Sabha count dropping to five is a lagging indicator of a deeper erosion. What mainstream coverage underplays is the signal this sends to other BJD members weighing their options: the BJP has demonstrated it can absorb and reward defectors quickly, and without electoral cost.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Debashish Samantaray elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha?
Samantaray was elected unopposed because no other candidate filed a valid nomination — or all who did withdrew before the 11 June deadline — leaving him as the sole contender for the lone vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Odisha. With no contest, the scheduled 18 June voting was cancelled.
Why did Samantaray resign from the BJD and join the BJP?
Samantaray resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the BJD's primary membership on 25 May, stating in his resignation letter to BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik that he had been continuously sidelined within the party. He joined the BJP the very next day, on 26 May.
How does Samantaray's exit affect the BJD in the Rajya Sabha?
His resignation reduced the BJD's Rajya Sabha strength from six to five members, further weakening the regional party's presence in the Upper House as it navigates life in opposition after losing power in Odisha.
What is Debashish Samantaray's political background?
Samantaray is a three-time member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, having won from the Tirtol and Barabati-Cuttack constituencies across three terms spanning 2000 to 2019. He was previously a senior figure in the BJD before switching to the BJP in May 2025.
What happens next after his unopposed election?
Samantaray will resume his seat in the Rajya Sabha as a BJP member. Political observers will watch what role the party assigns him in the Upper House and whether his high-profile switch triggers further realignments within Odisha's opposition ranks.
