TNI Bureau: BJD Rajya Sabha member Debashish Samantaray on Monday resigned from the primary membership of the Biju Janata Dal, reducing the party’s strength in the Rajya Sabha to 5 and launching a sharp attack on former bureaucrat and key BJD strategist V. K. Pandian.

Speaking after his resignation, Samantaray alleged that Pandian was the main reason behind his decision to quit the party. He claimed that despite repeated attempts over the past year, he was not allowed to meet BJD president Naveen Patnaik. According to him, Pandian was fully aware of his long-standing political and personal relationship with Naveen Patnaik but still prevented communication between them.

Samantaray further alleged that instead of strengthening and organising the party, efforts were being made to suspend more and more leaders within BJD. Referring to Naveen Patnaik’s earlier public statement that Pandian was “not his political successor,” Samantaray said the developments within the party contradicted that position.

He also expressed strong resentment over properties linked to BJD founder and former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. Samantaray alleged that a house built by Biju Patnaik had been handed over to Pandian in the name of a trust, calling it a “serious insult” to Biju Patnaik’s legacy. He further remarked that he could not accept the idea of Biju Patnaik’s property going to “a Tamil person”.

The BJD, however, hit back strongly at Debashish Samantaray. Party leaders said that the BJD had given him everything – political recognition, organisational importance and an opportunity to serve in the Rajya Sabha. They accused him of abandoning the party during difficult times and described his move as politically opportunistic. BJD leaders also asserted that his resignation would have little impact on the party and claimed that he joined the BJP purely for personal political interests.

Samantaray also indirectly hinted at joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said he was set to join a “national party” and claimed that he had received assurances from the top leadership of that party. Expressing confidence about his political future, he said that with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, he would return to the Rajya Sabha again.

He further stated that he had already explained the reasons behind resigning from BJD and added that he had returned the Rajya Sabha position that the party had given him. Samantaray is the third Rajya Sabha MP from BJD to move away from the party after Mamata Mahanta and Sujeet Kumar. Political circles are now closely watching whether he formally joins BJP in the coming days.