BJP Fields Sujeet Kumar As Rajya Sabha Nominee

BHUBANESWAR: As speculated, former BJD leader Sujeet Kumar on Monday filed his nomination as a BJP nominee for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll, which was necessitated following his resignation from the Upper house and BJD in September. The byelection is scheduled to be conducted on December 20.

Kumar filed his papers in the presence of chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, and BJP state president Manmohan Samal among others.

Kumar’s re-election to Rajya Sabha appears certain as BJP enjoys majority with 78 seats in the 147-member assembly. Kumar quit both Rajya Sabha and the BJD in September before joining the BJP.

Recently, former BJD Rajya Sabha member Mamata Mohanta, who resigned on July 31 and joined the BJP, was re-elected to the Upper House on a BJP ticket.