Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal continues to suffer political losses after former Rajya Sabha member Debashish Samantaray joined the Bharatiya Janata Party one day after quitting both his party and parliamentary seat. His formal entry into the BJP occurred on May 26 at the party headquarters in New Delhi, attended by senior leaders.
Samantaray’s move reduces the BJD’s Rajya Sabha representation to five members, further weakening the regional party’s parliamentary presence after its heavy defeat in the 2024 general elections.
BJP general secretary Arun Singh welcomed Samantaray with a membership certificate and flowers, noting that the leader was drawn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. Singh called Samantaray an experienced politician whose addition would strengthen the BJP in Odisha. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, state BJP chief Manmohan Samal, and other senior figures attended the event.
After joining, Samantaray said Modi’s leadership had influenced him and pledged to help build the BJP’s organisation in Odisha. State president Samal stated that Samantaray had left because he believed in the BJP’s principles and added that many BJD members now feel isolated. He said any future decision on a Rajya Sabha nomination for Samantaray rests with the central leadership.
Samantaray later met BJP national president Nitin Naveen along with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other senior leaders.
The BJD’s difficulties have grown since it lost power in Odisha after 24 years of rule. The party won no Lok Sabha seats in 2024 and has since seen its Rajya Sabha numbers fall from nine to five through resignations and defections. Four Odisha seats became vacant; the BJD filled only one. Its current members are Manas Mangaraj, Sulata Deo, Sasmit Patra, Santrupt Mishra and Subhasish Khuntia.
Samantaray’s term was due to run until 2030. A by-election will now be held, and observers expect the BJP may field him for the seat.
Inside the Odisha Assembly the BJD also faces strain. It won 52 seats in 2024, but one MLA’s death led to a bypoll in which the party’s candidate lost to a BJP nominee.
