BJD exodus continues as sitting Rajya Sabha MP Samantaray quits party

In the latest setback to the opposition Biju Janata Dal, Rajya Sabha member Debashish Samantaray on Monday resigned from the party’s primary membership, triggering intense political speculation in Odisha.

Political analysts believe that Samantaray, once considered a close confidant of BJD president Naveen Patnaik, may soon join the Bharatiya Janata Party. The speculation has intensified as two former BJD Rajya Sabha members had earlier resigned from the regional party before joining the BJP.

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Sources and political observers further indicated that Samantaray, a two-time MLA from the politically significant Barabati-Cuttack Assembly constituency, has reportedly been assured of re-election to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket during the upcoming biennial elections in June.

Notably, former BJD Rajya Sabha MPs Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar had earlier resigned from the Upper House while serving in the BJD and later joined the BJP. Both were subsequently re-elected to the Rajya Sabha on BJP tickets.

In his resignation letter addressed to Naveen Patnaik, Samantaray expressed gratitude to the party leadership for giving him the opportunity to serve in the Rajya Sabha and represent Odisha at the national level.

“I shall always be indebted to you for nominating me to the Rajya Sabha. I take this opportunity to express my sincere and deepest gratitude to you for giving me an opportunity to serve the people of the undivided Cuttack district and to raise issues concerning Odisha at the national level,” he stated.

However, Samantaray alleged that he had recently been sidelined within the party.

“I have always dedicated myself to the interests of the party and worked with utmost conviction and commitment. However, I feel that, of late, I have been systematically belittled within the party and that the party no longer requires my services. Therefore, I have taken this difficult decision in the public interest and request you to accept my resignation,” the letter added.