Prominent BJD Leader Joins BJP Amid Allegations

Debashish Samantaray, who previously served as a Rajya Sabha MP for the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The crossover was marked by a public event attended by senior BJP leaders.

Samantaray, known for being a close ally of BJD leader and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, resigned from both his party and parliamentary roles, alleging systematic belittlement within the organization. These claims reflect ongoing tensions within the BJD.

This development follows the departure of two other BJD MPs, Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mahanta, who had previously resigned and subsequently got elected to the Rajya Sabha on BJP tickets, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of Odisha.

(With inputs from agencies.)