New Delhi: Political activity has intensified in Odisha ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for April 2. Amidst discussions about potential candidates for four seats, the name of senior journalist and social activist Dr. Pabitra Mohan Samantaray has emerged prominently in political and media circles.Dr. Samantaray is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Odia daily Paryabekhyak and the English daily The Kalinga Chronicle.At the national level, he also holds important positions such as the National Journalists’ Federation (RPM), the National Media Confederation (NMC), and the National President of the Indian Federation of Small and Medium Newspapers (IFSMN), New Delhi.His involvement in public life spans several decades. In 2009, he contested the Odisha Legislative Assembly election from the Barchana constituency as a BJP candidate. Since then, he has consistently played an active role in media rights, journalist safety, and various socio-cultural initiatives. In addition to journalism and public service, Dr. Samantray has also made significant contributions to the dissemination of Vedic knowledge and value-based education. Over the past four decades, he has played a key role in the establishment and support of numerous educational institutions across the country, especially in Odisha. He currently serves as the President of the Vedic International Foundation and the Maharishi International Knowledge Foundation, and is also an advisor to several national and international organizations.Given his long-standing contributions to journalism, education, Vedic tradition, and social service, discussions have intensified among political analysts and the media regarding his potential Rajya Sabha candidacy. As the election date approaches, the political landscape in Odisha is constantly changing, and Dr. Samantray’s name appears to add a new dimension to this Rajya Sabha electoral equation.
