Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Shri Naveen Patnaik has officially announced the names of corporate leader Shri Santrupt Misra and medical professional Dr. Datteswar Hota as the party’s candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. This strategic move highlights the party’s focus on professional expertise and veteran institutional experience as it navigates the current political landscape.
Shri Santrupt Misra is a seasoned global business leader who recently transitioned into public service after a distinguished corporate career spanning nearly four decades. He served as the Group Director for Human Resources at the Aditya Birla Group and held significant leadership roles as the CEO of Birla Carbon and Director of the group’s Chemicals business. An academic achiever with dual PhDs in Public Administration and Industrial Relations from Utkal University and Aston Business School respectively, Misra joined the BJD in early 2024 and was appointed as the party’s national spokesperson. He previously contested the 2024 general elections as the BJD candidate for the Cuttack Lok Sabha seat. Beyond his corporate roles, he has contributed to national institutions as the Chairperson of the Board of Governors at NIT Rourkela and as a Director on the Board of ONGC.+4
Dr. Datteswar Hota is a renowned medical practitioner and academician in Odisha. He is widely recognized for his long-standing service in the state’s healthcare sector, particularly in the field of urology. Dr. Hota served as the Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) for the Government of Odisha, where he oversaw the state’s medical curriculum and institutional development. His career includes a tenure as the Dean and Principal of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, one of the premier healthcare institutions in Eastern India. His nomination is seen as a gesture of acknowledgment toward the professional and academic communities in the state.
The selection of these two candidates reflects the BJD’s preference for individuals with high-level administrative and professional backgrounds. By sending a top-tier corporate strategist and a veteran medical administrator to the Upper House, the party aims to strengthen its voice on national issues ranging from industrial policy and human resource development to healthcare and education reform.