Bhubaneswar, March 13 The ruling BJP in Odisha on Friday issued a directive, asking all its MLAs to be present in the assembly for voting in the Rajya Sabha elections on March 16.
Government whip Saroj Pradhan, in a statement, asked the party MLAs to be present on the assembly premises from 9 am to 4 pm on Monday.
The BJP's directive to its MLAs came after the BJD and Congress issued orders to their legislators to be present in the state capital during the Rajya Sabha elections.
In the 147-member Odisha Assembly, the BJP has 79 MLAs and the support of three other Independents, while the main opposition BJD has 48 MLAs after the suspension of two members. The Congress has 14 MLAs.
Taking into account the current party position in the assembly, the BJP is certain to win two seats, while one seat will go to the BJD. As a candidate needs at least 30 first preference votes in the Rajya Sabha polls in Odisha, neither the BJP nor the BJD has the strength to gain an additional seat.
BJD president Naveen Patnaik has fielded urologist Dr. Datteswar Hota as a common candidate to secure the support of the Congress' 14 MLAs and the lone CPI(M) member.
The BJP has fielded its state president Manmohan Samal, and Sujeet Kumar as its official candidates, while party leader and hotelier Dilip Ray is also in the race as an Independent candidate, with the saffron party's backing.
The Odisha Assembly is set to witness voting for Rajya Sabha elections after a gap of 12 years. The last voting for the Upper House of Parliament was held in the state in 2014, officials said.
This time, voting will be held for the Rajya Sabha elections as five candidates are in the fray for the four seats to be vacated on April 2.