Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Debashish Samantray on Monday resigned from the party and also quit the Rajya Sabha, alleging that he was “systematically belittled” in the organisation, in a move that came as a setback for the main opposition party in Odisha.
Samantray (66), a long-time aide of BJP president and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, told reporters that he will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon. He also said that he met Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan in Parliament and tendered his resignation from the Upper House.
In his resignation letter to Patnaik, Samantray said: “I hereby resign from the primary membership of the BJD…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. However, in recent times, I have been systematically belittled in the party and the party does not need my services.”
Samantray resigned from his post as vice president of the BJD Senior Citizens Cell in November 2025, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s performance. His resignation comes after two other Rajya Sabha MPs – Sujit Kumar and Mamata Mahanta – left the party and joined the BJP in August and September 2024. Both were later elected to the Rajya Sabha on BJP tickets.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, the three-time former BJD MLA alleged that despite being a close associate of Patnaik for years, he was prevented from meeting the BJD chief.
“There is no point in staying in the BJD when I cannot meet my party president,” he added.
With his exit, the BJP has only five members in the Rajya Sabha. Samantaray was elected to the Rajya Sabha in February 2024.
Meanwhile, the BJP rejected suggestions that Samantari’s resignation was a setback for the party.
“He left the party to protect his business interests. He was in politics to do business and not serve people,” BJD party president Pramila Mallick said, adding that his exit would strengthen the organization in Cuttack.
