Former BJD Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantaray Joins BJP

In a significant political shift in Odisha, former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha member Debashish Samantaray joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, May 26, a day after resigning from both the regional party and his seat in the Upper House of Parliament. The move deepens the challenges facing the BJD, which lost power in the state in 2024 after 24 years of rule.

Samantaray formally joined the BJP at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of senior leaders including National General Secretary Arun Singh, who presented him with a membership certificate. Other prominent figures at the event included Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram, and state BJP president Manmohan Samal.

Speaking after his induction, Samantaray stated he was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the BJP’s vision for national development. He committed to working to strengthen the party’s organizational base in Odisha. BJP leaders welcomed him as an experienced politician, noting his background as a three-time MLA and a founding member of the BJD before his election to the Rajya Sabha in April 2024.