Debashish Samantaray files Rajya Sabha bypoll nomination for Odisha BJP
Synopsis
Just days after quitting the BJD and crossing over to the BJP, Debashish Samantaray filed his Rajya Sabha nomination in Bhubaneswar on 5 June — effectively seeking back the very seat he vacated. With the BJP holding a comfortable majority in the Odisha Assembly, his return to the Upper House is seen as all but certain.
Key Takeaways
Debashish Samantaray filed his Rajya Sabha by-election nomination on 5 June at the Odisha State Assembly , Bhubaneswar.
He resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the BJD on 25 May and joined the BJP on 26 May .
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi , Deputy CM KV Singh Deo , and BJP state president Manmohan Samal were present at the filing.
The last date for nominations is 8 June ; voting, if needed, is scheduled for 18 June .
With the BJP holding a comfortable majority in the Odisha Assembly, Samantaray's election is widely seen as a formality.
Debashish Samantaray, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Odisha Rajya Sabha by-election, filed his nomination papers on Friday, 5 June at the Odisha State Assembly premises in Bhubaneswar, setting the stage for what is widely expected to be an uncontested return to the Upper House. The seat fell vacant after Samantaray himself resigned from it on 25 May, the same day he quit the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
Senior BJP Leadership Present at Filing
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal, and Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo were among the senior party figures who accompanied Samantaray during the submission of his nomination papers. The show of strength underlined the party's unified backing for its candidate ahead of the by-election.
What Samantaray Said
Speaking to reporters after filing his nomination, Samantaray expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Nitin Nabin for welcoming him into the party. 'After joining the BJP, I feel as though I have returned to my own home,' he said, also thanking legislators, the party chief whip, and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister for their presence and support.
Samantaray expressed confidence that he would be elected to the Upper House unopposed, stating that the numbers were firmly in the party's favour. On the possibility of cross-voting, he said he was not concerned, citing full confidence in party discipline and legislator support.
A Political Transition in Focus
Samantaray's switch from the BJD to the BJP is notable in the context of Odisha's post-2024 political landscape. He resigned from the BJD's primary membership on 25 May and formally joined the BJP on 26 May, with the ruling party announcing his Rajya Sabha candidature on Thursday, 4 June. Taking a veiled dig at his former party, Samantaray said the people of Odisha had delivered a decisive mandate in the 2024 elections and that the BJP remained committed to the vision of a developed Odisha under the broader Viksit Bharat mission.
Election Schedule and Expected Outcome
According to the official schedule, the last date for filing nominations is 8 June, with scrutiny of papers on 9 June. Candidates may withdraw until 11 June. Voting, if required, and counting are scheduled for 18 June. With the BJP commanding a comfortable majority in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Samantaray's election is widely regarded as a formality. No opposition candidate has so far indicated an intent to contest the seat.
Point of View
Switched parties, and is now reclaiming it under BJP colours, all within a fortnight. The real story is what his defection signals about the BJD's post-2024 structural decline in Odisha: a once-dominant regional force is now losing sitting Rajya Sabha members to the ruling national party. If the BJP continues to absorb BJD legislators and leaders at this pace, the opposition's ability to mount a credible challenge in the state will erode well before the next assembly cycle.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a Rajya Sabha by-election from Odisha?
The seat fell vacant after Debashish Samantaray resigned from Rajya Sabha membership on 25 May 2025, the same day he quit the BJD. The Election Commission subsequently scheduled a by-election to fill the lone vacant seat.
When is the Odisha Rajya Sabha by-election voting scheduled?
Voting, if required, is scheduled for 18 June 2025. The last date for nominations is 8 June, scrutiny is on 9 June, and the withdrawal deadline is 11 June.
Why is Samantaray's election considered a formality?
The BJP holds a comfortable majority in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, whose members vote in Rajya Sabha elections. With no credible opposition candidate announced, Samantaray is widely expected to win unopposed.
What was Debashish Samantaray's political background before joining BJP?
Samantaray was a member of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and had been elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJD ticket. He resigned from both the party and the Upper House on 25 May 2025 before joining the BJP the following day.
Who attended Samantaray's nomination filing?
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal, and Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo were among the senior BJP leaders present at the nomination filing at the Odisha State Assembly in Bhubaneswar.
