Odisha Congress not to field RS nominee, BJP to decide tomorrow

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 28:

After BJD announced Narendra Swain as its candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat lying vacant in Odisha, Congress today ruled out fielding any contestant against him. On the other hand, Odisha unit of BJP is yet to take a call.

Speaking to reporters today, Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Narasingha Mishra cited lack of strength of his party in the assembly as the reason for not announcing a nominee of its own.

“BJD has 117 members in the house and we have only 16. It means – this is certain that the BJD candidate will win the by-election. This is why congress has decided against fielding any candidate,” said Mishra.

With arithmetic in BJD’s favour and only 10 members under its command, the case for BJP doesn’t look good either. The party, however, is yet to take a call on its next course of action.

As per information provided by its Spokesperson Sajjan Sharma, the legislature party would meet tomorrow to decide on the candidature.

While it is certain that the seat would go to BJD, if BJP backs out like Congress, Narendra Swain may not even have to face the polls on his way to Rajya Sabha, where he is supposed to serve the remainder term of deceased MP Kalpataru Das.