Bhubaneswar, Aug. 5: Hopes of ace sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra, who lost to Ranjib Biswal of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha polls held in February despite overt support of chief minister Naveen Patnaik, have been rekindled with an Upper House seat in the state falling vacant following the death of BJD veteran Kalpataru Das.

"Its not about my wish. If Lord Jagannath so desires, it will happen. I have not forgotten the way I was humiliated last year. If I get into the Rajya Sabha, my dream of sculpting another Konarak would materialise," said Mohapatra.

Mohapatra told The Telegraph that he was in touch with the many industrial houses to help him to set up the second Sun temple, a project on which work would begin in September. It will come up about 25 km away from the original edifice. However, Mohapatra made it clear that he would not lobby for the seat this time.

Sources said apart from Mohapatra, several other BJD leaders were also in the race this time.

BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb, who is one of the aspirants, maintained that the chief minister would take a final call on the issue.

"No meeting has taken place so far to discuss the issue. The notification for the seat is yet to be issued. It is too early to comment. We should be patient," said Deb, who is considered close to the chief minister and has been made chairman of the Odisha State Housing Board.

Sources said as the seat belonged to a leader from the coastal belt, the number of aspirants from the area was likely to be high. Even co-operation minister Damador Rout has thrown his hat into the ring.

"It is not a matter of your wish, but I will be happy if I am sent to the Upper House," he said.

Other BJD members who are in the race for the seat include former finance minister Prasanna Acharya, who had lost the last Assembly elections, but enjoys the confidence of Naveen. The other BJD leader vying for the post is former minister Rabi Narayan Nanda from Koraput, who also lost the last Assembly election.

Even some young BJD leaders, who have worked for the party for many years without any rewards, are interested in the seat.

"If Dillip Tirkey and Anubhav Mohanty can go to the Rajya Sabha, why can't we?," asked one of them, who has worked for the party for over a decade.

The state has 10 Rajya Sabha seats of which BJD held nine, while Biswal of the Congress represents the 10th seat.

The BJD, which enjoys a brute majority of 117 in the 147-member House, is certain to win the seat that has fallen vacant because of Das's death.