BJP-backed candidates win Rajya Sabha seats in Odisha as voting continues in several states

Rabi Narayan Naik on Monday said that the two Bharatiya Janata Party nominees for the Rajya Sabha from Odisha — Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar — had won the elections. He added that independent candidate Dilip Ray, who was backed by the BJP, had also secured victory.

“The counting has concluded, and all three BJP-backed candidates — Manmohan Samal, Sujeet Kumar and Dilip Ray — have won,” Naik told ANI. Mohan Charan Majhi also congratulated the winners.

The developments came as voting took place for Rajya Sabha elections to fill 37 seats across 10 states. Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to the Election Commission of India alleging an “attempt at interference” in the polls in Haryana.

“There is a clear attempt to interfere with the integrity of the election and it must be stopped or redressed by the ECI immediately,” Kharge said, requesting time for a Congress delegation to meet the poll body.

The BJP also raised objections over alleged violations of vote secrecy during the Haryana election. State minister Krishan Kumar Bedi claimed two Congress MLAs did not properly fold their ballot papers, which he said compromised the secrecy of their votes. The party has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission.

In Odisha, Naveen Patnaik alleged irregularities during the voting process. He claimed election rules were breached after a legislator from the Brahmagiri Assembly constituency was issued a second ballot paper after making an error while casting her vote.

According to Patnaik, the polling officer accepted the incorrect vote and later issued another ballot paper, which he said violated election norms.

In Bihar, voting also continued through the day. As per reports, 176 MLAs from the National Democratic Alliance had cast their votes, while 37 legislators from the opposition Mahagathbandhan had voted. Polling began at 9 am and counting was scheduled to take place after voting concluded at 5 pm.

Ahead of the elections, the Indian National Congress reportedly moved some of its Haryana legislators to Kasauli amid concerns over possible cross-voting.

The terms of 37 Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana will end in April, opening the seats for fresh elections.

Of the total seats, 26 candidates have already been elected unopposed. Voting is being held for the remaining 11 seats — five from Bihar, four from Odisha and two from Haryana.

Among the 26 unopposed winners, the BJP secured seven seats, the Congress five, All India Trinamool Congress four, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam three, while Shiv Sena, Republican Party of India (Athawale), Nationalist Congress Party, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Pattali Makkal Katchi and United People’s Party Liberal secured one seat each.

Notable figures elected unopposed include Sharad Pawar, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Tiruchi Siva and Vinod Tawde.

Focus on Nitish Kumar

Attention is also on Nitish Kumar, who has announced plans to enter the Rajya Sabha and filed his nomination in the presence of Amit Shah.

In a message posted on X, Kumar said his relationship with the people of Bihar would remain unchanged even if he stepped down as chief minister.

“I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time. I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast,” he wrote.

The National Democratic Alliance, which currently holds 134 seats in the 234-member Upper House and governs six of the states voting, is aiming to further strengthen its position in the Rajya Sabha.

The opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc currently holds about 80 seats in the Upper House.