Organisation : Election Commission of India (ECI)
Announcement : Bye Election to the Council of States from Odisha
Applicable State/UT : Odisha
Website : https://www.eci.gov.in/
ECI Bye Election to the Council of States from Odisha
1. There is a casual vacancy in the Council of States from Odisha as per following details:
2. The Commission has decided to hold a bye-election to the Council of States from Odisha to fil up the above-mentioned vacancy in accordance with the following schedule:
3. The Commission has directed that for the purpose of marking preference(s) on the ballot paper only integrated violet colour sketch pen(s) of pre-fixed specification, provided by the Returning Officer, shall be used. No other pen shall, under any circumstances, be used in the above said election.
4. Adequate measures for close monitoring of the election process by appointing observer shall be taken to ensure free and fair election.
Reason for Vacancy:
Debashish Samantaray resigned from both his seat and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Recent Biennial Elections:
Earlier in March 2026, biennial elections were held for four other Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha. Candidates like Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar were nominated by the BJP, while Santrupt Mishra and Dr. Datteshwar Hota were approved by the BJD.
Political Shift:
Debashish Samantaray’s resignation on May 25, 2026, followed his departure from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Assembly Dynamics:
The election will be conducted by the 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly. As of late May 2026, the BJP holds 79 seats plus the support of 3 independents, while the BJD has 48 members. This numerical advantage places the BJP in a strong position to secure this single vacant seat.
Recent Momentum:
This bye-election follows the March 2026 biennial elections where the BJP gained significant ground, winning three out of four seats (including an independent they supported), while the BJD won only one.
Election Particulars :
Voting Method:
In accordance with Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the election will be held via a secret ballot by the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
Official Oversight:
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha oversees the local logistics, while the Election Commission of India (ECI) manages the overall schedule and notifications.
Key Venue:
The polling and counting will take place within the Odisha Legislative Assembly premises in Bhubaneswar.
Candidate Speculation:
While official nominations only open on June 1, 2026, there is intense speculation that the BJP may nominate Debashish Samantaray himself to reclaim the seat under their banner, or another senior leader to further consolidate their presence in the Upper House