Bhubaneswar: Former BJD Minister Pratap Keshari files nomination for Rajya Sabha seat

Former minister Pratap Keshari Deb on Monday, filed his nomination papers as a ruling Biju Janata Dal ((BJD) candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat, election for which will be held on May 25. Accompanied by Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik and other senior leaders of BJD, Deb filed three sets of nomination papers on the last date for filing nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat.

Deb, resigned as the chairman of the Odisha State Housing Board before filing the nomination paper.
"I m grateful to party president for giving me this chance to represent Odisha at the Rajya Sabha. I will speak and act for Odisha and voice the state's issues," Deb, also spokesman of BJD told reporters after filing the nomination paper.

Deb's election to the Rajya Sabha is almost certain keeping in view the strength of BJD in the assembly. The ruling party has 117 MLAs in the 147-member Odisha Assembly.
The Congress has 16 MLAs while BJP's strength in the assembly is only 10.

The Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant following the resignation of BJD MP Bishnu Charan Das on March 21 this year.
His term of office would have ended on July 1, 2022.