BJD Rajya Sabha MP Debasish Samantray resigns from the party and Parliament, triggering fresh political speculation in Odisha ahead of key developments
OdishaPlus Bureau
Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Debasish Samantray announced his resignation from the primary membership of the party on Monday. He was regarded as a close associate of Naveen Patnaik. The BJD currently has six Rajya Sabha members, including Samantaray. He submitted his resignation letter to BJD president Naveen Patnaik, expressing in the letter that he felt systematically undermined and that the party no longer needed his contributions.
Samantaray’s resignation follows the departure of two other Rajya Sabha MPs, Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mahanta, from the party months earlier. Both Mahanta and Kumar were subsequently elected to the Rajya Sabha on BJP tickets.
Upon resigning, he stated, “This morning, I submitted my resignation from the BJD. I have communicated with the BJD President, Naveen Patnaik, regarding my resignation from the primary membership of the party. Today, I also met with the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and have submitted my resignation from the Rajya Sabha as well.”
Nevertheless, he expressed his appreciation to Naveen Patnaik for nominating him to the Rajya Sabha and for the opportunity to serve the people of the undivided Cuttack district and Odisha at the national level.
With Debashish Samantaray’s departure from the BJD, the party’s representation in the Rajya Sabha will decrease to five members. There is speculation that after joining the BJP, Samantaray may be re-elected to Parliament with the party’s backing.
In a letter dated May 25, 2026, Samantaray indicated that he had consistently worked for the party with dedication and commitment but chose to resign in the interest of the public. He characterized the decision as challenging yet essential.
He has consistently claimed that, although he declared his “sanyas” from active politics, Pandian has continued to exert influence over the operations of the regional party from behind the scenes. Previously, Samantaray had stepped down from his role as vice-president of the BJD senior citizens’ cell in November 2025. At that juncture, he expressed his discontent with the party’s operations. He also asserted that the BJD had strayed from the ideology and principles established by former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. In February of the previous year, BJD leader Naveen Patnaik revealed the names of former MLA Debashish Samantaray and party member Subhasish Khuntia as candidates for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Regarding the resignation of Biju Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP Debasish Samantray from the party, BJP MP Rabindra Narayan Behera remarked, “Currently in Odisha, the BJD is losing its members one by one. There has been a lack of good governance during the BJD’s tenure. Everyone within that party has felt constrained. Now that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ‘Double Engine’ government is in power, good governance is being established in Odisha. It is anticipated that he will join the Bharatiya Janata Party. Should he decide to join, whatever decision the party makes concerning him will be welcomed with open arms…”