Who will Odisha’s ruling BJD send to Rajya Sabha?

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today cleared the air that his party would be fielding political people as candidates for the three Rajya Sabha seats from the State that will fall vacant  in April this year and for which Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced March 23 as the polling date.

“It’s usually political people who will go to the Rajya Sabha,” Patnaik said replying to queries by reporters on who his party was going to field as candidates for the three Rajya Sabha seats from the State that would fall vacant in April.

“That will have to be considered seriously and will be declared at the appropriate time,” he clarified to reporters on his arrival here after his New Delhi visit.

Notably, A U Singhdeo and Dilip Tirkey (both from BJD) and A V Swami (BJD supported Independent) representing Odisha in the Rajya Sabha will be retiring on April 3, this year.

On the other hand, political pundits and commentators are busy speculating over the nomination of the candidates to the upper house. It remains to be seen whom party supremo Naveen Patnaik, who is known for springing surprises, will do the favour.