Bhubaneswar: The Election Commission of India will issue a notification on Wednesday for the by-election to the Rajya Sabha seat from Odisha, which became vacant after the resignation of BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Mamata Mahanta.
According to sources, the last date for filing nominations is August 21, and the scrutiny of nominations will take place on August 22. The final list of candidates will be announced on the same day. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until August 27.
The by-election will be held on September 3, and the counting of votes will take place on the same day at 5 pm. The result will be announced shortly after.
Mamata Mahanta resigned from the Rajya Sabha membership on July 31, and speculation is rife about who will be the next representative from Odisha.
While the BJP is yet to announce its candidate, names like Mamata Mahanta, who recently joined the party, state BJP president Manmohan Samal, and former state BJP president Samir Mohanty are doing the rounds.
It is pertinent to mention that Mahanta resigned from the Rajya Sabha, two years before completion of her tenure on July 31.
Hailing from Mayurbhanj, she also resigned from BJD, saying she was taking the “hard decision in the public interest.
