By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 15, 2018: All three ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidates Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Prashanta Nanda and Achyuta Samanta were elected to Rajya Sabha uncontested from Odisha on Thursday.

The Returning Officer Rajesh Prabhakar Patil handed over the certificate to Patnaik and Nanda after their names were announced as the elected candidates from the state for upper house of Parliament for six years.

However, Samanta, who was absent, is yet to take his certificate.

A beaming Patnaik said, “I will raise key issues related to Odisha in the Rajya Sabha. I will continue my fight for the cause of farmers, language and prohibition of liquor.”

On other issues of importance, Patnaik said, “The government has taken some steps with regard to chit fund and language issues. I hope the government will take care of other issues soon,” he added.

Veteran actor and former minister Nanda declared, “I will work as per the instruction of the party and I will raise the questions in Rajya Sabha.”

The nomination papers were scrutinized on March 13 and there were only three candidates for three seats for the Upper House.