Debashish Samantray on Monday resigned from his Rajya Sabha membership and the primary membership of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), alleging systematic belittlement within the organisation, ahead of his expected joining the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Samantray’s resignation came after Rajya Sabha members Mamata Mohanta and Sujit Kumar quit the BJP and joined the BJP in 2024. The BJP lost power in Odisha in June 2024 after a 24-year rule. With Samantray’s exit, the BJP now has five legislators in the Rajya Sabha. Samantaray submitted his resignation as Rajya Sabha member to Vice-Chairman CP Radhakrishnan.
In his resignation letter to BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, Samantray said he increasingly feels ignored and undervalued. “I have always dedicated myself to the interest of the party and over the years have worked for the party with utmost conviction and commitment. I have been systematically belittled in the party…the party has no need of my services,” he wrote.
The resignation came months after Samantray stepped down as vice president of the BJP’s senior citizens’ cell in November 2025, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s performance. In his previous communication with Patnaik, he alleged that the party has moved away from the ideology and principles associated with former Prime Minister Biju Patnaik.
Pointing out the BJP’s defeat in the Assembly elections and subsequent political setbacks, Samantray claimed that the party leadership failed to conduct a serious review or take corrective action.
A three-time assembly member, Samantray, 66, was elected to the Rajya Sabha in February 2024.
