Dilip Ray, a newly elected Rajya Sabha member, visited the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri on Tuesday to offer prayers and express appreciation following his victory in the Upper House elections.
After seeing Lord Jagannath, Ray said he prayed for strength, patience, and courage to serve the people of Odisha properly. He expressed optimism that the deity's blessings would lead him in carrying out his duties for the good of the state.
Ray told the reporters that he was sure in his victory and had begun preparations for the election over two months in advance. He stated that the outcome shows the campaign's hard work and strategy.The senior leader also thanked his supporters throughout the election, including several MPs who crossed-voted. He indicated that some people supported him because of personal relationships, while others did so out of goodwill and trust.
"It is all due to Mahaprabhu's blessings. I prayed for the strength, patience, and courage to serve the people of Odisha well. Many MLAs crossed-voted for me because of our emotional and personal connections. Ray stated, "I had begun preparations a couple of months ago and was confident of being in a strong position."