Senior BJD Leader Debasis Samantaray Resigns from Party Membership

Debasis Samantaray, a senior leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Rajya Sabha member, has resigned from the party, citing feelings of humiliation and a lack of need for his services. His departure follows the exit of two other Rajya Sabha members and raises questions about the future of the BJD in Odisha politics. Samantaray expressed gratitude towards Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for past opportunities but indicated dissatisfaction with the party's direction. This resignation could potentially alter the political landscape in Odisha, with speculations about his future alignment with the BJP. Read on for a deeper insight into this significant political shift.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 25, 2026, 14:15 IST

Debasis Samantaray's Resignation from BJD

On Monday, Debasis Samantaray, a prominent leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and a member of the Rajya Sabha, announced his resignation from the party's primary membership. Known to be close to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Samantaray is one of six Rajya Sabha members from the BJD. In his resignation letter addressed to Patnaik, he expressed feelings of systematic humiliation and stated that the party no longer required his services.

Context of the Resignation

Samantaray's departure follows the exit of two other Rajya Sabha members, Sujit Kumar and Mamata Mahant, who left the party a few months prior. Both Mahant and Kumar were later elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket. After submitting his resignation, Samantaray confirmed, "I have resigned from BJD this morning. I have sent my resignation letter to party president Naveen Patnaik and also met with the Vice President and the Rajya Sabha Chairman to resign from the Rajya Sabha."

Gratitude and Future Speculations

Despite his resignation, he expressed gratitude towards Naveen Patnaik for the opportunity to serve the undivided Cuttack district and the people of Odisha at the national level. Following Samantaray's exit, the BJD's representation in the Rajya Sabha will decrease to five members. There are speculations that he may be re-elected to Parliament with BJP's support after joining the party.

Reasons Behind the Decision

In a letter dated May 25, 2026, Samantaray stated that he had always worked for the party with strong conviction and commitment but decided to resign in the public interest. He described this decision as difficult yet necessary. He had previously accused certain individuals of influencing the regional party's operations despite announcing his retirement from active politics. Earlier, in November 2025, he had resigned from the position of Vice President of the BJD Senior Citizens Cell, expressing dissatisfaction with the party's functioning. He also claimed that the BJD had deviated from the ideologies and principles of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.

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