EC announces schedule for one Rajya Sabha seat in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: The Election Commission of India has announced dates for the bypoll to a Rajya Sabha seat in Odisha on Wednesday. As per the announcement, bypoll to a Rajya Sabha seat will be held on December 14.

The seat has been vacant since the demise of Biju Janata Dal MP Kalpataru Das on July 25.  As per the scheduled announced by the commission, notification would be issued on November 26, candidates would file nomination on December 2. The voting and counting will be held on December 14.

Odisha has 10 Rajya Sabha seats. Currently, the ruling BJD has six Rajya Sabha members after demise of Kalpataru Das.  They are Anubhav Mohanty, A U Singh Deo, Baishnab Charan Parida, Bhupinder Singh, Dilip Tirkey and Sarojini Hembram.

Ranjib Biswal is the only Congress MP from Odisha in Upper House. And, A V Swamy and Pyarimohan Mohapatra are two independent members are nominated to the upper house from Odisha.