Unexpected Political Alliance: BJD and Congress Unite for Rajya Sabha Polls

The BJD and Congress have teamed up for the Rajya Sabha polls, described by the BJP as an 'alliance of desperation.' With neither major party securing enough assembly numbers for an additional seat, the BJD fielded Datteswar Hota as a common candidate. This marks a significant political shift in Odisha.

In a surprising development, Odisha's political scene witnesses an unexpected alliance as the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress team up for the Rajya Sabha polls. The BJP has labeled this collaboration as an 'alliance of desperation' rather than one of shared ideologies. The political climate in the state is heating up.

The decision came after the Congress expressed support for the BJD's proposed common candidate, eminent urologist Datteswar Hota. With both BJP and BJD lacking the necessary numbers in the Assembly to clinch an additional seat, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik nominated Hota, who also received backing from the CPI(M).

This marks the first instance of such cooperation between the BJD and Congress on a political issue in Odisha, raising eyebrows among political observers. The BJP sees this as a move from 'political untouchability to comfortable proximity,' projecting a long-term advantage for themselves in the state's future political landscape.

(With inputs from agencies.)