Debashish Samantaray Files Rajya Sabha Nomination as BJP Candidate, Launches Fresh Attack on BJD

Former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Debashish Samantaray on Friday filed his nomination papers as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election from Odisha.

The nomination was submitted before the Returning Officer at the Odisha Legislative Assembly in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, BJP State President Manmohan Samal, several ministers, and party legislators. Samantaray filed four sets of nomination papers, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi serving as the first proposer.

His candidature was officially approved by the BJP Parliamentary Board a day earlier, putting an end to speculation over the party’s nominee for the Upper House seat.

BJP Leadership Extends Full Support

The nomination filing witnessed a strong show of support from the BJP leadership in Odisha. Senior party leaders, ministers, and MLAs accompanied Samantaray during the process, underlining the significance of his induction and nomination.

The former Rajya Sabha MP expressed gratitude to both the central and state leadership of the BJP for reposing faith in him.

“I feel like I have returned home. The party has once again given me the opportunity to serve in the Rajya Sabha. Whatever responsibility the BJP assigns to me, I will discharge it sincerely,” Samantaray said after filing his nomination.

Samantaray Predicts Further Exodus from BJD

Soon after filing his nomination, Samantaray launched a sharp attack on his former party, BJD, predicting that more leaders would leave the regional outfit in the coming months.

He claimed that the BJD was steadily weakening and that many leaders were looking for alternatives. According to him, the BJP’s growing influence and the presence of a “double-engine government” in Odisha would enable faster development and create greater political opportunities.

He also stated that working for the people would be easier with both the state and central governments being led by the BJP.

From BJD Exit to BJP Entry

Samantaray resigned from both the BJD and his Rajya Sabha membership on May 25. He submitted his resignation from the party to BJD president Naveen Patnaik and later met Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan to formally step down from the Upper House.

Following his resignation, he openly criticized the BJD leadership, alleging that he felt sidelined within the party. He claimed that he was prevented from visiting Naveen Niwas and accused the party of failing to uphold the legacy of Biju Patnaik.

A day after quitting the BJD, on May 26, Samantaray formally joined the BJP at the party’s national headquarters in New Delhi. He joined in the presence of Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal and Odisha BJP in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar.

After joining the BJP, Samantaray thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he was inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India). He pledged to work towards strengthening the BJP in Odisha.

BJP Claims BJD Facing Leadership Crisis

BJP leaders also intensified their criticism of the BJD following Samantaray’s nomination.

BJP MP Pradeep Purohit claimed that the BJD was facing a leadership vacuum after losing power in 2024 and predicted that more senior leaders and MPs could leave the party in the near future.

He alleged that several BJD leaders were already in touch with the BJP and asserted that the saffron party’s government in Odisha would continue for a long time.

BJD’s Strength in Rajya Sabha Shrinks Further

The development marks another setback for the BJD, which currently has no representation in the Lok Sabha. In the Rajya Sabha, the party’s strength has now reduced significantly and stands at only five members.

Before Samantaray’s resignation, two other BJD Rajya Sabha MPs—Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar—had also resigned from both the party and the Upper House.

With Samantaray now officially becoming the BJP’s Rajya Sabha nominee, political observers believe the move could further reshape Odisha’s political landscape and intensify the battle between the BJP and BJD ahead of future electoral contests.