Odisha: BJD leader Debashish Samantaray joins BJP

A day after quitting the Biju Janata Dal and resigning from the Rajya Sabha, former MP Debashish Samantaray on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, intensifying political turbulence within the Naveen Patnaik-led regional party following its post-2024 electoral setbacks.Samantaray was formally inducted into the BJP by party National Secretary Arun Singh during a press conference in New Delhi. BJP Odisha in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar and Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal were also present at the event.
Welcoming Samantaray into the party, BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni highlighted his long political experience and contribution to Odisha’s development, culture and grassroots politics.“As you know, a prominent leader of the BJD, Debasish Samantaray ji, resigned from the party as well as from his Rajya Sabha membership yesterday and is joining the BJP family today. We warmly welcome Debasish Samantaray ji into the Bharatiya Janata Party family,” Baluni said.He noted that Samantaray had served as a three-time MLA and had represented the Tirtol and Barabati-Cuttack constituencies in the Odisha Assembly. Baluni also highlighted his tenure as Chairman of the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation and his work in folk art, culture and poverty alleviation.

#WATCH | Delhi | MP Debashish Samantaray joins Bharatiya Janata Party, after he resigned from Biju Janata Dal today. pic.twitter.com/5NJ038kils

— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2026

Samantaray’s switch came a day after he resigned from the BJD and the Rajya Sabha, alleging that he was being “systematically belittled” within the party.In his resignation letter addressed to former Odisha chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, Samantaray wrote that he had served the party with “utmost conviction and commitment” but felt sidelined in recent times.“However, I feel that, of late, I have been systematically belittled in the party and that the party does not require my services,” he stated.

#WATCH | Delhi: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Debasish Samantray resigns from the party

He says, "This morning, I sent a letter of resignation from my primary membership to the BJD President, Naveen Patnaik. I outlined certain reasons in that letter. Then, I went to… pic.twitter.com/6Ltv9eoE1R

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2026

The BJD, however, strongly criticised Samantaray’s decision and accused him of prioritising “business interests” over party ideology and public service.In a sharp statement, the party said it had repeatedly supported Samantaray politically by nominating him to the Rajya Sabha for a fifth term and appointing him to key organisational posts, including Chairman of the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation.“Debashish Samantaray is resigning from the party to pursue his own interests, taking advantage of all the facilities provided by the party,” the BJD said.The party further alleged that Samantaray was moving closer to the BJP by placing “business interests above party expectations.”

Odisha | Debashish Samantaray (in file pic) is resigning from the party to pursue his own interests, taking advantage of all the facilities provided by the party. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had given him a ticket for the fifth time and made him a Rajya Sabha MP. Naveen Babu had… pic.twitter.com/Ub1QHQq2Zn

— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2026

Samantaray’s exit marks another setback for the BJD, which has already witnessed the departure of former Rajya Sabha MPs Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mahanta, both of whom later joined the BJP after resigning from the regional party in 2024.