Former legislator Debashish Samantaray and vice-president of Biju Janata Dal youth wing Subhasish Khuntia filed nomination for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election in Odisha, which is scheduled on February 27. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was present at the filing of nominations in the Odisha Assembly. The BJD is expected to win all three seats as it holds a majority in the Assembly. The term of three Rajya Sabha members from Odisha, including Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, is ending. The BJP is yet to announce its candidate.