Bhubaneswar: As expected earlier, BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, who had filed nomination papers for the by-poll to the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Odisha, withdrew his nomination paper for the election.
The BJP had nominated former MP Mamata Mohanta for the RS seat. Apart from her, Shri Pradhan had filed the nomination paper with support from 10 BJP MLAs, which raised questions.
However, later, BJP President Manmohan Samal has clarified that Shri Pradhan is a dummy candidate and his nomination was a part of the party’s political decision.
Speaking to media persons here, Shri Pradhan said he has withdrawn the nomination today. He thanked the party and its leadership for making him a part of the procedure followed for the Rajya Sabha by-poll.
Now, only one candidate Mamata Mohanta has remained in fray for the by-poll which is scheduled to be held on September 3. However, as only one candidate is there, there will be no election and she will be elected unopposed, sources said.
Shrimati Mohanta had been elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJD ticket in April, 2020. The woman leader from Mayurbhnaj, however, resigned from the Rajya Sabha as well as the primary membership of BJD on July 31. A day after her resignation, Mohanta joined the BJP in New Delhi.
Mohanta, a noted social activist and leader of the Kudumi community, belongs to the Mayurbhanj district. Her tenure as Rajya Sabha MP was to end in April of 2026.