Bhubaneswar: The political landscape in Odisha is witnessing a quiet realignment as the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Indian National Congress forge a rare tactical alliance for the upcoming March 2026 Rajya Sabha elections. This strategic shift, emerging from the opposition benches, aims to challenge the Governing Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) numerical dominance in the Odisha Legislative Assembly and block its attempts to sweep the available seats.
The alliance was solidified following the announcement of Dr. Datteswar Hota, a renowned urologist and the first Vice-Chancellor of the Odisha University of Health Sciences, as a common candidate. Although nominated by the BJD, the PCC Chief swiftly extended its support, framing Dr.Hota as a candidate of professional eminence rather than a partisan figure. This collaboration marks a significant departure from the traditional rivalry between the two parties in Odisha, signaling a unified front against the BJP’s expanding influence.
The arithmetic of the 147-member assembly has become a focal point of this contest. While the BJP, with its 79 MLAs and the support of 3 independents, is comfortably positioned to secure two seats, its leadership has hinted at a goal to win a third. However, the BJD’s strength has recently been trimmed to 48 active members after the suspension of MLAs Sanatan Mahakud and Arabinda Mahapatra, while Souvic Biswal is also viewed as a loss to the party’s core voting block. Despite these internal fractures, the combined strength of the BJD and the 14-member Congress block provides approximately 62 votes, which is theoretically sufficient to secure two seats—one for the BJD’s primary nominee, Santrupt Misra, and the second for the common candidate, Dr. Hota.
The BJP is expected to announce its candidates by March 2 or 3, with several heavyweights and senior leaders hopeful of receiving tickets. These names include influential state figures and former ministers who were instrumental in the party’s 2024 victory. The upcoming nominations will reveal whether the BJP intends to play a cautious game by settling for two seats or if they will field a third candidate to test the resilience of the new BJD-Congress pact.
As the March 5 nomination deadline approaches, the spotlight remains on the stability of the opposition alliance. The election on March 16 will serve as a major test for the BJP’s ability to attract disgruntled opposition members and for the BJD and Congress to maintain their newfound unity in a secret ballot.