TNI Bureau: Yet again, BJD President Naveen Patnaik played his cards carefully for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls by announcing the candidates, one of them a surprising one. That surprising candidate will trigger political realignment in the state in future.

Naveen has announced Dr. Santrupta Mishra as party’s official candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls, which was well anticipated. Santrupta, Political Secretary of Naveen Patnaik and 2024 Cuttack Lok Sabha Candidate, got the nod ahead of others.

Naveen named Eminent Urologist Dr. Datteswar Hota as the Common Rajya Sabha Candidate, putting the ball in the court of other political parties. Naveen sought the support of all parties to get Dr. Hota elected to Rajya Sabha. Dr. Hota is also a good singer.

Interestingly, PCC President Bhakta Charan Das had also suggested the name of Dr. Datteswar Hota and a few others as the probable Rajya Sabha Candidates. If both BJD and Congress support Dr. Hota, then it would be an interesting battle. BJP is unlikely to support a candidate proposed by BJD and supported by Congress, it’s believed.

Now, all eyes will be on BJP as they go into a huddle to finalise the names for Rajya Sabha polls.