As expected, BJP candidate Mamata Mohanta has been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha in the recent by-poll
OdishaPlus Bureau
Mamata Mohanta, who hails from the Kudumi community in Mayurbhanj district, previously resigned from the BJD and her position as a Rajya Sabha MP in July, which necessitated the by-election. She subsequently joined the BJP, which put her forward as its candidate.
The BJP currently holds 74 seats in the 147-member Odisha Assembly and has the backing of three independent legislators. In contrast, the BJD and Congress have 51 and 14 seats, respectively. Additionally, with one member from the CPM, the opposition lacked the requisite numbers to contest the seat.
Odisha has a total of 10 Rajya Sabha seats, with the BJD occupying eight and the BJP one. Mohanta’s resignation created a vacancy for one seat. With this Odisha BJP has now two seats in the Rajya Sabha.
Mamata Mohanta, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJD ticket in 2020, unexpectedly resigned from her MP position and the BJD on July 31, citing allegations against the party. Her term was scheduled to conclude in 2026. She joined the BJP the day after her resignation, leading to speculation that BJP’s Odisha President Manmohan Samal would take her place in the Rajya Sabha following her departure.
It was anticipated that a significant number of members from the BJD would transition to the BJP in the wake of Mamata’s actions. However, this has not occurred.
