Former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) senior leader Debashish Samantaray has switched to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a day after resigning from his former party. The joining ceremony took place at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, where Samantaray was welcomed by Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal, National General Secretary Arun Singh, Odisha In-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, and other party leaders. Samantaray expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity to be part of BJP and contribute to the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
After officially joining BJP, Samantaray highlighted his admiration for PM Modi’s leadership and expressed his commitment to working with BJP leaders and party members to strengthen the party’s presence in Odisha. Samal, the Odisha BJP chief, emphasized that Samantaray’s entry into the party, given his significant influence in the undivided Cuttack district, will bolster the party’s organizational structure in the state. He also noted Samantaray’s extensive experience in state politics and his alignment with BJP’s ideology and governance under the double-engine model at the Centre and in the state.
Samantaray’s potential re-election to the Rajya Sabha was hinted at, with expectations of his active participation in the party’s initiatives in the Upper House of Parliament. His departure from BJD, marked by his resignation from the party’s primary membership and Rajya Sabha seat, has impacted the opposition party’s representation in the Upper House, reducing it to five members. Samantaray, a three-time MLA, had previously served in the Odisha Legislative Assembly representing the Tirtol and Barabati-Cuttack constituencies during different terms from 2000 to 2019.
