BHUBANESWAR, ODISHA — The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, suspended three of its MLAs for “anti-party activities” after a dramatic cross-voting episode in the Rajya Sabha elections. The move follows a significant upset where the BJP-supported independent candidate, Dilip Ray, clinched a seat that was expected to go to the opposition-backed BJD candidate.
The suspension of the three legislators—Sofia Firdous (Barabati-Cuttack), Ramesh Jena (Sanakhemundi), and Dasarathi Gomango (Mohana)—has reduced the Congress’s effective strength in the state assembly as the party reels from the internal rebellion.
The Rajya Sabha Tally: A Tactical Win for BJP
The election for 37 seats across 10 states concluded with high drama in Odisha and Bihar. In Odisha, the contest for the fourth seat became a flashpoint after several BJD and Congress MLAs broke ranks to support Dilip Ray.
| Candidate | Party / Affiliation | Status |
| Manmohan Samal | BJP (State President) | Won |
| Sujeet Kumar | BJP | Won |
| Dilip Ray | Independent (BJP-backed) | Won |
| Santrupt Mishra | BJD | Won |
| Datteswar Hota | BJD (Congress-supported) | Lost |
Arabinda Das, Chairman of the Media for OPCC, confirmed the suspensions, stating, “Three members of the Congress Legislature Party defied the party and cast their votes in favor of the BJP-supported candidate. They have been suspended with immediate effect.”
Dilip Ray’s Return to the Upper House
Following his victory, Dilip Ray visited the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri to offer prayers. Ray, who last served in the Rajya Sabha from 2002 to 2008, expressed his gratitude for the cross-party support. “Brothers and sisters from the BJD and Congress have also supported me; everyone came together to bring about this victory,” Ray told reporters, pledging his commitment to the development of Odisha.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated the winners, calling the result a milestone toward a “Samruddha Odisha” (Prosperous Odisha) and a reflection of the “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” vision.
Bihar: NDA Sweeps All Five Seats
The trend of opposition fragility extended to Bihar, where abstentions from Congress and RJD MLAs allowed the NDA to secure all five Rajya Sabha seats uncontested.
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Prominent Winners: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, RLM Chief Upendra Kushwaha, Ram Nath Thakur (JD-U), and Shivesh Ram (BJP).
The biennial elections were held to fill 37 seats; while 26 candidates were elected unopposed earlier, the remaining 11 seats saw intense political maneuvering, resulting in a strengthened position for the NDA in the Upper House.
