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Making the regional party's stand clear, BJD secretary general Damodar Rout told reporters that they were not concerned if Ray's defeat ensures the victory of Maurice Kujur, the Congress candidate.
He said his party was hurt when four legislators and two associate members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the BJD's coalition partner in the state, proposed Ray's name for the election.
Asked who between Ray and Kujur would be more acceptable to the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, he avoided a reply.
There are five candidates in the fray to fill up four vacancies in the Rajya Sabha from Orissa. The BJD has fielded two women, Sushree Devi and Pramila Bohidar while the BJP's candidate is its state secretary Suren Kumar Lath.
"All BJD legislators, including its associate members, will vote for the two party nominees only," Rout said. With 69 MLAs in the 147-member state assembly, the BJD is comfortably placed to get them elected. The BJP, which has 38 members in the House, is sure to get the third seat.
Ray, contesting as an independent candidate, and the Congress nominee will slug it out for the fourth seat.
PTI
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