BHUBANESWAR: State BJP president Manmohan Samal, sitting member Sujeet Kumar and former union minister Dilip Ray on Thursday filed their nomination papers for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha.
Samal and Sujeet Kumar filed their papers as BJP candidates, while Ray entered the fray as an Independent candidate with the party’s support.
The three leaders submitted their papers in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, several ministers, MLAs and senior BJP leaders. The BJP had announced its candidates on Wednesday, while Ray declared his candidature the same day.
However, political attention has largely centred on Ray, whose emotional social media message on the birth anniversary of veteran leader and former chief minister Biju Patnaik on the day of filing his nomination has set political circles abuzz. A seasoned political figure from western Odisha, Ray’s entry into the fray has sparked speculation over possible cross-party support.
Recalling his long association with the legendary leader, Ray said in a lengthy post on X, “Today, on the birth anniversary of my mentor Biju Babu, as I file my nomination for the Rajya Sabha as an Independent candidate with the support of the BJP, my heart is filled with emotion beyond words.”
Describing March 5 as a deeply personal day, he said the occasion always reminds him of the “towering personality and a father-like figure” who shaped not only Odisha’s destiny but also his own journey in public life.
“Biju Babu was a true statesman beyond party lines and ideology. He belonged to Odisha, and every Odia belongs to his legacy,” he said.
Calling the moment both political and personal, Ray sought the blessings of the people of Odisha and support from those inspired by Biju Patnaik’s vision.
When asked about Ray’s chances, Sujeet Kumar said the party leadership had already expressed confidence about his victory. He, however, avoided commenting on the possibility of cross-voting.
“Ray is a very seasoned politician and has friends and well-wishers across political parties,” he said.
Ray’s political career has seen similar high-stakes contests in the past. After being expelled from the Biju Janata Dal in 2002, days before the Rajya Sabha polls, he had contested the election defying considerable political odds. Ray managed to secure support from legislators cutting across party lines and was elected to the Upper House. At the time, the BJP was in a coalition government with the BJD led by then chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
With Ray once again entering the Rajya Sabha race, observers say his past experience and cross-party goodwill could play a role in the current contest as well.
Earlier, Samal and Sujeet Kumar, accompanied by party leaders, offered prayers at a Ram temple near the state BJP office before proceeding to file their nomination papers.