Bhubaneswar: The candidates of ruling Biju Janata Dal on Tuesday filed their nominations for the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections 2024.
Veteran BJD leader Debashish Samantaray and Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BJYD) vice-president Subhasish Khuntia submitted the nomination papers to Abanikant Patnaik, Returning Officer of the Odisha Legislative Assembly in the presence of BJD President Naveen Patnaik.
Several BJD leaders were present on the occasion.
Speaking to media persons, Khuntia said, “I am happy with whatever the decision taken by the Chief Minister who is the supreme leader of our party. I have been given the responsibility to raise the concerns of Odisha at the national level. I am feeling proud that CM Patnaik and 5T chairman Kartik Pandian promoted a poor youth like me from Puri.”
Similarly, the three-time BJD MLA Samantaray said, “Chief Minister has given a key responsibility and this shows his faith in me that I would raise the issues concerning Barabati-Cuttack and the whole state at the national level and strengthen the relations between state and Centre in a federal structure.”
The election will be held on February 27 between 9 am and 4 pm. The counting of votes will be conducted on the same day.