Bhubaneswar (28 February 2026): The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has officially announced the names of its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Party president Naveen Patnaik declared that Dr. Santushta Mishra and Dr. Datteshwar Hota will contest as the party’s nominees.
The announcement puts an end to speculation surrounding the party’s choice of candidates for the Upper House of Parliament. The decision is seen as a strategic move by the BJD leadership ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls.
Party sources said that both candidates have been actively associated with public service and are expected to effectively represent Odisha’s interests in the Rajya Sabha.
With this declaration, the political atmosphere in the state has intensified as other parties are also gearing up to announce their nominees for the parliamentary contest.
