Bhubaneswar, March 3 -- After Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) declared support for Datteswar Hota as the common candidate for Rajya Sabha elections, BJP MP Balabhadra Majhi asked the Opposition parties to extend support to the BJP to secure the fourth seat in the Upper House of Parliament.

Downplaying the Congress-BJD alliance for one Rajya Sabha seat, Majhi said that the BJD and Congress have never allied in the past and are "unlikely to do so" for the upcoming elections.

"BJD and Congress have never allied and are unlikely to do so. They will need the support of at least 12 MLAs to get the fourth seat, which is difficult. They both should support us, for we are taking the 4th seat," the BJP leader told ANI on Monday.

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