Bhubaneswar Unrest: BJD MP Samantray’s Bombshell Resignation Exposes Deep Party Faultlines

Samantray Calls Position “Demeaning and Humiliating”

In a dramatic escalation of internal unrest within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantray resigned from his post as Vice President of the BJD Senior Citizens Cell, calling the role “demeaning and humiliating”. Breaking a long silence, the veteran leader launched a scathing attack on the party during a press conference on Tuesday.

Targets “Coterie Group,” Clears Naveen Patnaik of Blame

In a letter addressed to party chief Naveen Patnaik, Samantray explicitly absolved the former Chief Minister of wrongdoing and instead blamed an “evil coterie group” for undermining both the party and the state.
He alleged that BJD has drifted from the ideals of Biju Patnaik, stating:
“BJD is no longer the voice of Biju Babu’s vision; it has become a ship without a captain, controlled by unseen hands like Bhairab.”
Samantray claimed repeated requests to meet Naveen were ignored, despite his commitment to remain loyal to the “Biju–Naveen line”.

Accuses Leadership of Sabotaging 2024 Polls

Launching a fierce critique of the 2024 election team, Samantray alleged the leadership deliberately selected “wrong candidates” to engineer losses and shift blame.
He added that senior leaders who lost the elections were now behaving “as if they are all-powerful”, sidelining veterans and destabilising the party. Candidate selection, he argued, amounted to “self-sabotage” and was the primary reason for the defeat.

Bhupinder Singh Issues Ultimatum, Hints at New Party

As the crisis deepened, senior BJD leader Bhupinder Singh issued a sharp ultimatum to the same coterie, accusing them of plotting against experienced leaders.
He claimed groups were meeting in hotels to plan the marginalisation of seniors and warned:
“If no one except Naveen understands the party’s pulse, we will consider other options — even starting a new party.”
His remarks follow recent developments including Munna Khan’s resignation from the minority convenor role and Ayub Khan’s meeting with Naveen Patnaik to voice grievances.

Rising Tension Within Cuttack Unit

With growing reports of factionalism in the Cuttack unit, the party faces a widening internal crisis. Naveen Patnaik now faces the critical task of containing dissent and restoring unity within BJD’s ranks.

Will BJD Reconcile or Split?

As the situation intensifies, political observers are watching closely. Will the party reconcile through dialogue, or is BJD heading toward a potential split?
The Opposition in Odisha is already weakened—making the next steps crucial for the state’s political landscape.