Voting Underway for Four Rajya Sabha Seats in Odisha

Polling for four Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha began on Monday at the state Assembly complex in Bhubaneswar amid allegations of “horse trading” levelled by the opposition parties.

Leaders of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Indian National Congress accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to influence legislators ahead of the crucial election.

Polling commenced at 9 am inside the Assembly premises, with Odisha’s Health and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling becoming the first MLA to cast his vote. He was followed by Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, who recently returned to the state after undergoing medical treatment in New Delhi.

Leader of the Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik also exercised his franchise, while several legislators from different parties were seen standing in queue at the polling booth set up within the Assembly complex.

The election is being closely watched amid concerns of cross-voting, with both the BJD and Congress alleging that the ruling BJP is trying to lure opposition MLAs.

Officials said the polling process is being conducted under strict supervision, and the results are expected to be announced after the completion of voting and counting later in the day.