Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Aug 27: BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan withdrew his nomination for the Rajya Sabha by-election on Tuesday, following the party’s instructions.
Pradhan had initially filed his nomination as an independent candidate on August 21, shortly after BJP’s official nominee Mamata Mahanta submitted her papers. He was widely seen as a strategic placeholder to safeguard against any potential issues with Mahanta’s nomination. It was anticipated and later confirmed by BJP MLA Purna Sethi that Pradhan would withdraw his nomination on the designated date.
With Pradhan’s withdrawal, Mamata Mahanta was declared elected unopposed, as she was the only candidate remaining in the race. She subsequently visited the Odisha Legislative Assembly to collect her election certificate.
Mahanta, a tribal leader from the Kudumi community of Mayurbhanj district, had vacated her Rajya Sabha seat as a BJD member on July 31, with 18 months remaining in her term, before joining the BJP. Her election to the Upper House was a foregone conclusion, given the BJP’s strength in the 147-member Odisha Assembly.
