BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan files independent nomination for Rajya Sabha by-election

Bhubaneswar, Aug 21: BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan on Wednesday submitted his nomination for the Rajya Sabha by-election in Odisha, shortly after party nominee Mamata Mahanta did the same before the returning officer in Bhubaneswar. Pradhan filed his nomination as an independent candidate at the Odisha Assembly, with several leaders, including MLAs, present.

Pradhan had previously run for the Bhubaneswar-Central Assembly seat but lost to BJD’s Ananta Narayan Jena by a narrow margin. Although some BJP MLAs supported Pradhan's nomination, the reason for his independent bid remains unclear since the party had officially nominated Mamata Mahanta for the Rajya Sabha seat.

Observers speculate that Pradhan's nomination might be a strategic move to provide a safeguard for the party. Earlier, Mahanta filed her nomination in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, BJP state president Manmohan Samal, and Odisha in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar.

The BJP had confirmed Mahanta's nomination on Tuesday for the Rajya Sabha seat, which became vacant after her resignation from the Upper House on April 3, 2020, with 18 months remaining in her term. Mahanta, a tribal leader from the Kudumi community of Mayurbhanj district, had left the BJD on July 31 due to alleged neglect and joined the BJP the following day.