Ex-BJD MP Debashish Samantaray joins BJP, a day after quitting regional party
Debashish Samantaray has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after resigning from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). His move is seen as a strategic gain for the BJP ahead of the 2027 local polls in Odisha. The BJD's strength in the Rajya Sabha has decreased to five following his departure.
- ▪Debashish Samantaray joined the BJP a day after quitting the BJD.
- ▪His induction is viewed as a strategic gain for the BJP ahead of upcoming elections.
- ▪The BJD's strength in the Rajya Sabha has now fallen to five members.
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A day after stepping down as a Rajya Sabha MP and quitting the Biju Janata Dal, Debashish Samantaray joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi on Tuesday (May 26, 2026). He was welcomed by BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Mr. Samantaray, a three-time MLA, is expected to return to the Rajya Sabha, following a precedent set by current BJP MP Sujeet Kumar and former MP Mamata Mohanta, both of whom had resigned from the Upper House and were later re-elected with BJP support. With Mr. Samantaray’s exit, the Biju Janata Dal’s strength in the Rajya Sabha has come down to five.‘BJD going down’A vocal critic of V.K. Pandian, a close aide of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Mr.
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