Bhubaneswar, 08 March (H.S.): Congress has reaffirmed its commitment to a united front for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, with party legislators set to support the officially nominated candidate, Dr. Dateshwar Hota. Speaking to the media, Ramchandra Kadam, leader of the Congress legislative party, emphasized that there will be no division or cross-voting within the party.

He added that the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president has held one-on-one discussions with all legislators to ensure coordination. Kadam stated that questions of cross-voting do not arise, as the party's legislators are fully aligned.

Highlighting the numbers, Kadam noted that the combined strength of BJD, Congress, and CPI(M) amounts to 33 votes, giving them a clear majority. In contrast, the BJP has only 22 votes, which is insufficient to challenge the united front. He expressed confidence that, based on the party's internal calculations, Congress will secure victory.

Kadam also stressed that Congress and BJD legislators will work together in the assembly to safeguard the state's interests and prevent communal forces from interfering in the political process. By coming together as a secular force, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome. We have a history of fighting unitedly whenever needed, he added.

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda