BJP’s Jagannath Pradhan Withdraws Nomination for Rajya Sabha Bypoll

Bhubaneswar: BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, on Tuesday, withdrew his nomination as an Independent candidate for the upcoming Odisha Rajya Sabha byelection.

Pradhan filed his nomination on August 21 a few hours after former MP and BJP leader Mamata Mohanta had submitted her nomination as BJP’s official candidate in the presence of CM Mohan Charan Majhi.

Mamata Mohanta was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJD ticket in April 2020. On July 31, she resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the primary membership of BJD, although her tenure was to end in April 2026.

After withdrawing his nomination, Pradhan told newsmen that he had filed the nomination as per the instruction of the BJP leadership. He said, as a disciplined worker of the party, he had discharged the duty assigned to him.