Bhubaneshwar: Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik today said the party would soon announce the names of candidates for the three Rajya Sabha seats of the state to fall vacant in April.

"We will soon announce names of BJD candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections," Patnaik told reporters here.

Elections to three RS seats in Odisha will be held as the tenure of Dilip Tirkey, A U Singhdeo and BJD-backed Independent candidate A V Swami would end on April 3, 2018.

As per the Election Commission of India, notification for the election would be issued on March 5, while last date of nomination is March 12. Elections will be held on March 23.

To win the Rajya Sabha election in the state, a candidate needs 37 first preference votes, state Assembly officials said.

The BJD has 118 MLAs in the Odisha Assembly, the Congress has 15 MLAs and the BJP has 10 legislators.

While Patnaik is likely to retain Dilip Tirkey in the Rajya Sabha, he may engage senior leader and BJD vice- president A U Singhdeo in organisational activities in Bolangir district, keeping in view the general elections next year, party sources said.