BJD names candidates for Rajya Sabha poll, Odisha Rajya Sabha biennial elections candidates voting% result 2016, Prasanna Acharya, Bishnu Charan Das, N Bhaskar Rao, Odisha biennial elections 2016, RS polls 2016

Odisha Rajya Sabha biennial elections candidates LIVE voting% result 2016, BJD names candidates for Rajya Sabha poll,Prasanna Acharya, Bishnu Charan Das, N Bhaskar Rao, Odisha biennial elections candidates 2016, RS polls 2016

Odisha Rajya Sabha biennial elections candidates LIVE voting % 2016

Putting speculations at rest, BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced party's nominee for the biennial elections to Rajya Sabha.

1. Prasanna Acharya

2. Bishnu Charan Das

3. N Bhaskar Rao

Given by the strength of BJD in the state assembly, which has 117 MLAs, election of the three leaders to the upper house of the parliament is a foregone conclusion.

Rajya Sabha Biennial Election...All you need to Know

While Acharya and Das were unsuccessfully contested the 2014 assembly elections, Rao was appointed as the deputy chairman of state plan board after BJD formed government fourth successive times in 2014. According to party insiders, the chief minister has made meticulous exercise before finalizing names of candidates keeping in mind the upcoming panchayat elections due in February, next year.

Naveen picked Das, a five-time MLA and former minister, as the scheduled caste candidates have no representation to the Rajya Sabha. He also represents from coastal district.

By nominating Acharya, the BJD president tried to strengthen party's base in western Odisha apparently to stall BJP's growth in western Odisha.

The southern Odisha, which currently has no representation, got a candidate after Rao's name was announced.

src:TOI

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