Having 13 short of first preference votes for the fourth seat, ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday formally announced three names including two Ministers for the February 7 biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from the State. They are State Panchayati Raj Minister Kalpataru Das, Handloom and Textile Minister Sarojini Hembram and former Minister AU Singh Deo. By announcing the list of candidates in proxy, BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik sealed the fate of scores of aspirants.
Patnaik on Thursday last had announced to support the candidature of internationally acclaimed sculptor Padma Vibhushan Raghunath Mohapatra for the fourth seat for which no political party has the required numbers to win. Mohapatra who met Patnaik at the latter’s residence on the day had expressed his willingness to contest the Rajya Sabha elections as an Independent candidate.
It may be noted that elections to the four Rajya Sabha seats from the State was necessitated as the terms of Ramachandra Khuntia of Congress, Balbir Punj of BJP and Mangala Kissan and Renubala Pradhan of ruling BJD expires on April 2 next.
In the 147 member State Assembly, the BJD which has 107 members, lacks the required first preferential votes to elect a candidate for the fourth seat. It requires 30 first preferential votes to elect a candidate.
After casting their first preference votes in favour of the first three candidates, the BJD is left with only 17 votes for the fourth candidate. There are six Independent members in the House with one Rajendra Sahoo having the support of the BJD.
The party is trying to garner support of the Independent members and the BJP to elect Mohapatra to the Rajya Sabha. The BJP has six members besides Independent member Pratap Sarangi. However, the BJP which has been harping on the candidature of one renowned person for unanimous choice has not yet decided on the issue.
However, considering the choice, the BJP is all set to go in support of Mohapatra’s candidature for the fourth seat and as a matter of principle the Congress candidate would not be acceptable to the saffron party. Besides, the BJP sees possible political assimilation with the BJD after the general elections.
The lone CPI member in the House is most likely to vote in favour of the BJD supported candidate Mohapatra.
According to BJD sources, the party supremo had chosen the three to give a fair representation from the western, northern and coastal zones of the State. Besides, Patnaik also tried to give a message that still he gives priority to women and tribal as well. While AU Singh Deo would be given the charge of election management in western Odisha, Kalpataru Das would manage the election affairs in the coastal Odisha.
Meanwhile, despite the lack of magic numbers to ensure win of a candidate, the Congress has already announced to field Ranjib Biswal, a former member of the lok Sabha and the present IPl chairman, for the fourth seat to checkmate the BJD supported candidate Mohapatra. Congress having 27 members in the Assembly needs three more preferential votes to ensure the victory of Biswal.
Though filing of nominations began on January 21 and January 28 is the last day of nomination, so far no body has filed their papers for the elections to the Upper House. As many as 29 set of nominations have been issued in favour of desirous candidates. While the scrutiny of nomination papers will be held January 29, the last date for withdrawal of nominations is January 31.
BJP to back Mohapatra
The BJP will back the BJD-sponsored Independent candidate and renowned sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra for the fourth Rajya Sabha seat, sources in the party said on Monday. BJP national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters here that his party would take part in the voting process instead of abstaining from it. However, he said the final decision on whom to support would be taken by the central leadership. “We will not support the Congress candidate (Ranjib Biswal) under any circumstances and, in fact, will do everything possible to ensure his defeat,” Pradhan said, adding, “Our decision with regard to party support for Raghunath Mohapatra will be taken in due course. Mohpatra is undoubtedly a befitting candidate for Rajya Sabha,” he added.
Paving way for sons’ entry into Assembly
Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has not only obliged former Minister AU Singh Deo and present Minister Kalpataru Das with party tickets for the Rajya Sabha elections he has also reportedly paved the way for their sons to contest from their respective Assembly constituencies. Singh Deo, who has already inducted his younger son Arkesh Narayan into politics, is being groomed to contest from the Balangir Assembly, which is now represented by his father. Singh Deo’s elder son Kalikesh Narayan is currently the lok Sabha members from the Balangir seat. As for Kalpataru Das, his son Pranab Balabantray is being projected as his father’s successor from the Dharmasala Assembly constituency, BJD sources said.