Odia film actor Anubhav Mohanty today filed nomination papers as a BJD candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat, by-poll of which is scheduled to take place on June 19.
Accompanied by the BJD President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other senior ministers, the film actor filed two sets of nomination papers.
The seat fell vacant after A U Singhdeo, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha on February 7 last did not resign as an MLA within the due date to make it to the Upper House. He preferred to contest the Assembly elections again from Balangir
seat this time, but lost.
"I wish him all the best in his duties as Rajya Sabha member," Patnaik told reporters after Anubhav filed his papers.
Odisha's young actor said "I'll work hard for the interests of my state."
Given the BJD's numerical strength of 117 in the 147-member Assembly, Anubhav's election is a foregone conclusion.
