Legislators from different parties are leaving for the Odisha Legislative Assembly, where the biennial Rajya Sabha elections are being held on Monday (March 16, 2026).
The Rajya Sabha election has become politically exciting with five candidates vying for four vacant seats amidst massive allegations of poaching of MLAs through horse-trading. Congress on Sunday (March 15, 2026) alleged four persons with an intention to bribe its MLAs were spotted in Mysuru resort where party legislators were staying.
“Reports have emerged that four individuals were arrested in Bengaluru on allegations of attempting to hand over blank cheques to MLAs with the intent to buy votes for BJP-supported Rajya Sabha candidates,” wrote former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on ‘X’ on Monday.
“For the past few days, I have been consistently stating that the BJP has been engaged in horse-trading-like activities to bring MLAs from other parties in Odisha over to its side. This arrest in Bengaluru is major proof of that. The people of Odisha are watching everything and will certainly keep this in mind,” said Mr. Patnaik.
Ashok Kumar Das, deputy leader of the Odisha Congress Legislature Party, said he has lodged a complaint alleging that four unidentified persons approached the MLAs with offers.
Meanwhile, BJP MLAs who were put up in a hotel in port town of Paradip have arrived Bhubaneswar by bus. BJP sources said MLAs were given mock-polling training so that their votes would not be rejected.
Similarly, BJD MLAs spent their night at Naveen Niwas, the residence of former Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, to prevent attempts by rival groups to poach MLAs. The regional party issued show cause notice to two MLAs for remaining absent from the meetings called by party president Naveen Patnaik. They are Baliguda MLA Chakramani Kanhar and Jayadev MLA Naba Kishor Mallick have not been attending for the last three days. They have been asked to be present in the assembly premises.
While the BJP has fielded its State President Manmohan Samal and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar, it is backing hotelier and former Union Minister Dilip Ray. Similarly, the BJD has announced Santrupta Mishra, political advisor to Mr. Patnaik and Datteswar Hota, a noted urologist, as the common candidate. Congress has extended its support Dr. Hota.
In the 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly, the BJP has 79 MLAs and also enjoys the support of three Independents. The principal Opposition party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has 50 MLAs, but its strength has effectively come down to 48 after the party suspended Aravind Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud over alleged anti-party activities. The two MLAs have not yet pledged support to any candidate.
The Congress has 14 MLAs, while the lone MLA of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has announced support for the common Opposition candidate.
Published – March 16, 2026 09:16 am IST
