Former BJD MP Debashish Samantaray Joins BJP After Resigning from Rajya Sabha

Bhubaneswar: In a major political development in Odisha, former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha member Debashish Samantaray joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, a day after resigning from the regional party and giving up his parliamentary seat.

Samantaray officially joined the BJP in the presence of senior BJP leaders at the party headquarters in New Delhi. His appointment marks another defeat for the BJD, which has witnessed civil unrest and a series of defections following its defeat in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections.

Speaking after joining the BJP, Samantaray said he was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party’s vision of ‘Vikshit Bharat’. He expressed confidence that he will contribute to the development of Odisha through the BJP platform.

Samantaray said, “I joined the BJP today, impressed by Prime Minister Modi’s dedication and leadership. I will work for development activities in Odisha.” He also thanked the BJP management for inviting him to the party.

The veteran politician from coastal Odisha had resigned from the BJD on Monday, alleging that he was being systematically ostracized within the organisation. In his resignation letter addressed to former Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, Samantaray claimed that internal party democracy has weakened and leaders are no longer allowed to serve according to their “caliber and ability”.

He had also criticized former IAS officer VK Pandian’s growing influence in the BJD and alleged that the party’s electoral defeat and Naveen Patnaik’s political decline was linked to Pandian’s increasing control over organizational affairs.

Samantaray also claimed that he had not been able to meet Naveen Patnaik for more than a year despite their long political association. He also expressed concern over the management of Biju Naveen Inspirational Trust by Pandian, saying that this creates the impression that Pandian is being projected as the political successor of Naveen Patnaik.

With Samantaray’s departure, three former BJD Rajya Sabha MPs left the party and later joined the BJP, underscoring the ongoing turbulence in Odisha’s opposition politics.