Sujeet Kumar Files Nomination for Rajya Sabha By-Poll

Bhubaneswar: Former BJD MP Sujeet Kumar has officially entered the Rajya Sabha by-poll race from Odisha as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. Accompanied by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, BJP state president Manmohan Samal, and other senior leaders, Kumar filed two sets of nomination papers on Monday.

 Kumar’s candidacy was confirmed by the BJP’s Central Election Committee earlier in the day. Thirty MLAs have signed as proposers for his nomination, with Chief Minister Majhi and Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo leading the endorsements.

 Speaking to reporters, Kumar expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized his commitment to developing the Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) region, focusing on infrastructure, road connectivity, and tourism. “The people have seen my work in the Rajya Sabha over the last four and a half years. I aim to bring progress to the KBK region with the cooperation of our leaders,” he stated.

 Kumar’s election appears assured, given the BJP’s commanding position in the 147-member Odisha Assembly, where it holds 78 seats. The BJD follows with 51 seats, while Congress holds 14.

The by-election was necessitated after Kumar resigned from his Rajya Sabha seat and left the BJD in September, later joining the BJP. The Election Commission of India announced the by-poll on November 26. The deadline for filing nominations is December 10, with voting scheduled for December 20, if required.

 This development follows another significant move by the BJP in Odisha, where senior Kudumi leader Mamata Mohanta, formerly of the BJD, also transitioned to the BJP and was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha.