Odisha Rajya Sabha race heats up as ex-Union Minister Dilip Ray seeks cross-party support
A day after receiving the ruling BJP’s backing for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in Odisha, former Union Minister Dilip Ray on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) launched his campaign, asserting that arranging the required additional votes would be “not a difficult task” for him.
Mr. Ray, the lone parliamentarian from Odisha to have served as a Union Minister under three Prime Ministers — Atal Bihari Vajpayee, H.D. Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral — had on Tuesday (March 3) announced his decision to contest the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections as an Independent candidate, despite being a BJP member.
Under the current strength in the 147-member Assembly, a candidate requires 30 first-preference votes to win. The BJP has 79 MLAs and the support of three Independents, taking its tally to 82. After ensuring victory for its two official candidates, the party will have a surplus of 22 votes.
The BJD, with 48 MLAs following the suspension of two members in January, will have 18 surplus votes after securing one seat. The Congress has 14 MLAs and the CPI(M) has one member.
Mr. Ray will need at least eight additional votes beyond the BJP’s surplus to win.
-PTI
