Debashish Samantaray, a former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Rajya Sabha member, has switched allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. He was welcomed into the BJP by key party figures, including Arun Singh, Anil Baluni, and other senior leaders. This move follows his resignation from the BJD and as a Rajya Sabha member.
After formally joining the BJP, Samantaray met with the party’s President Nitin Nabin. He was honored by Nabin and received well by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, and other prominent leaders. Samantaray, who had a long association with the BJD, expressed gratitude to Naveen Patnaik for nominating him to the Rajya Sabha in a letter before his departure.
Having also resigned from his Rajya Sabha membership, Samantaray’s exit has reduced the BJD’s representation in the Rajya Sabha to five members. He had a significant political career, serving as a three-time MLA in the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 2000 to 2019. Samantaray, once a close associate of Naveen Patnaik, was known for his vocal stance on the party’s internal matters.
