Senior Biju Janata Dal leader Dr. Sasmit Patra has resigned from his role as the Parliamentary Party leader of the BJD in the Rajya Sabha. The resignation was accepted by the party supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday. Sources suggest that internal party issues led to Patra stepping down from his position as the BJD’s Rajya Sabha leader.
It is speculated that Santrupt Misra, a corporate executive and political secretary to Patnaik, who recently won a seat in the Rajya Sabha elections, might replace Patra as the BJD parliamentary party leader. The party faced internal discord after a sudden change in stance during the voting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in April 2025, which led to demands for Patra’s removal.
Patra, a former academic and now a two-term Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha, has been a significant voice in Parliament on national and regional issues. He has been serving as the BJD’s national spokesperson, representing the party’s interests in New Delhi and advocating its positions in the Upper House.
