Soon after being nominated as the BJD candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Odisha on Thursday, senior ruling party leader Pratap Keshari Dev said that upholding the interest of the people of the state would be the top priority during his tenure as a member of the Upper House of the Parliament.
Speaking to Kalinga TV Deb, who is Chairman of Odisha State Housing Board and BJD spokesperson at present, said, “I thank party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for nominating me for the Rajya Sabha. I will raise different issues pertaining to Odisha during my tenure and will always work in accordance with the CM’s instructions.”
Soon after returning from New Delhi, Patnaik cleared the air on the BJD’s nominee for the Rajya Sabha and announced Deb as the party candidate for the Upper House by-poll.
The outcome of the election to be held formally on May 25 is a foregone conclusion as the BJD has a thumping majority in the State Assembly.
The former Technical Education and Training and IT Minister’s term of office will end on July 1, 2022.
The seat had fallen vacant after Bishnu Das resigned following his appointment as the Deputy Chairman of Odisha Planning Board.
Ms Kalinga