India, March 5 -- Five candidates, including state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Manmohan Samal and BJD leader Santrupt Mishra, on Thursday filed nominations for four Rajya Sabha seats from the state, setting the stage for a keen contest as the Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) backed a common candidate, reshaping the state's once-familiar three-cornered political rivalry.

BJP candidates Samal, sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar, and independent candidate and former Union minister Dilip Ray, who is backed by the party, filed their nominations at the State Legislative Assembly in the presence of chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi and senior BJP leaders.

Biju Janata Dal candidates Santrupt Misra and urologist Datteswar Hota, who...