The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday firmly rejected allegations of internal sidelining, hitting back at three-time MLA Debashish Samantaray after he resigned from the party and the Rajya Sabha, with senior leaders calling his departure a self-interested move that would ultimately strengthen the organisation.

Samantaray's Resignation and the Sidelining Charge

Debashish Samantaray, a three-time MLA and Rajya Sabha member, submitted his resignation from the BJD in a letter addressed to party president Naveen Patnaik on Monday, 25 May, citing continuous sidelining within the party. He also formally resigned his Rajya Sabha membership, reducing the regional party's Upper House strength to five members.

Samantaray's exit is the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the BJD since the party lost power in Odisha, and it has reignited questions about internal cohesion within the once-dominant regional force.

Pramila Mallik's Sharp Rebuttal

BJD chief whip in the Odisha Assembly, Pramila Mallik, did not hold back in her response. 'They came to the party for their own self-interests. They enjoyed the benefits, earned money, fame and various posts and positions in the party. But when the party lost power, they showed their true colours and left the party to get cleaned in the BJP's washing machine,' she said.

Mallik further alleged that Samantaray had never raised issues concerning Odisha in the Rajya Sabha, nor had he presented the party's viewpoints in the Upper House of Parliament. She noted that Naveen Patnaik had given Samantaray an MLA ticket on three occasions and, even after electoral defeats, appointed him chairman of the Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC) before nominating him to the Rajya Sabha. She also claimed Samantaray had caused severe damage to the party organisation during his tenure as Cuttack district president.

Party Spokesperson Calls it 'Greatest Hypocrisy of 2026'

BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty went further, labelling Samantaray's sidelining allegations 'the greatest hypocrisy of 2026.' 'How can somebody claim to be belittled when he was given party tickets continuously for five elections? He won three Assembly elections, and even after losing twice, the party continued to trust him,' Mohanty said.

Mohanty listed the positions Samantaray had held — including chairman of the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC), district president in Cuttack, and Rajya Sabha nomination despite losing elections — and alleged that after becoming a Rajya Sabha MP, 'he was nowhere to be seen' for the last two years.

BJP Angle and Allegations of Business Interests

Mohanty also accused Samantaray of switching sides to protect personal business interests. 'He has compromised for vested interests and joined the BJP to protect his business interests. He is afraid of the BJP and has gone to the other camp for his own benefit,' he alleged. The BJP had not officially commented on the matter at the time of reporting.

Mohanty called Samantaray a 'traitor' and condemned what he described as 'hypocritical ways,' while asserting that the BJD remained organisationally strong under Naveen Patnaik's leadership and that such departures would have no meaningful impact on the party.

What This Means for BJD Going Forward

The resignation chips away at the BJD's already reduced parliamentary presence, but the party's public posture is one of confidence. Whether the string of exits since the electoral loss represents a structural weakening or a routine post-defeat reshuffle will become clearer as the Odisha political landscape evolves in the months ahead.