Bhubaneswar: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha has issued a strict whip for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16, instructing all its MLAs to remain present in the Assembly and ensure their participation in the voting process.
Government Chief Whip Saroj Pradhan issued the whip, directing party legislators to be present in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on the polling day without fail. The directive comes amid heightened political activity and speculation over cross-voting or strategic maneuvers for the four vacant Rajya Sabha seats from the state.
The elections, set to fill vacancies with polling from 9 am to 4 pm and counting starting at 5 pm on March 16, feature five candidates in the fray: BJP’s Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar, BJD’s Santrupt Misra, a common opposition candidate Dr. Datteswar Hota (backed by BJD, Congress, and CPI(M)), and BJP-supported Independent Dilip Ray vying for the fourth seat.
With BJP holding a strong position (79 MLAs plus Independents support), the whip underscores the party’s emphasis on discipline and unity to maximize its influence in the biennial polls. Similar whips have already been issued by opposition parties BJD and Congress, directing their MLAs to stay in Bhubaneswar from March 13 to 16 to prevent any possible horse-trading or defections.
