Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 27:

Putting all speculation to rest, Odisha’s Biju Janta Dal (BJD) today announced its candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha (RS) seat which fell vacant following the demise of MP Kalpataru Das.

narendra swain new

BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik today made the formal announcement here.

“Narendra Swain, the General Secretary of the Biju Janata Dal, has been nominated as the party candidate for the Rajya Sabha election,” BJD president Naveen Patnaik announced at his residence here.

Party General Secretary and chairman of Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) Narendra Swain has been handpicked by the party president as the official contender for the RS by-poll to be held on December 14.

“I am a dedicated worker of the party. I have discharged my duties as and when the party has deligated any work to me. I am grateful to party supremo’s decision. I will work for the party with utmost dedication. Besides, I will raise the issues related to Odisha in the Parliament” Narendra Swain said post the announcement.

Yesterday, the Odisha Legislative Assembly had issued a formal notification for the by-poll to a Rajya Sabha seat.

As per the notification issued by the returning officer, the filing of nominations process began yesterday and the last date for filing nominations is December 3. While, the verification of nomination papers is on December 4, the last date of withdrawal of nominations is on December 7. The polling and counting of votes will be held on December 14.

Notably, the ruling BJD is set to win the Rajya Sabha seat considering its strength in the Assembly.

The Upper House seat from Odisha had fallen vacant following the demise of senior BJD leader Kalpataru Das on July 25 this year. The BJD member’s term of office would have ended on April 2, 2020.