Former BJD MP Debashish Samantaray, who has been nominated by the BJP for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in Odisha, stated that he was expecting the move since four years of his original parliamentary tenure were still remaining.
Samantaray was initially elected to the Upper House in February 2024 as a BJD candidate. However, the three-time MLA and veteran politician resigned from the Naveen Patnaik-led party on May 25 and joined the BJP the next day. His resignation came four years ahead of his scheduled completion of tenure in April 2030.
Samantaray was offered with the BJP ticket within just 10 days of joining the saffron party.
“I joined the BJP inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and vision for a developed India,” Samantaray remarked, while extending his gratitude to the BJP leadership for nominating him to fill the vacancy created by his own resignation.
Reflecting on his exit from BJD, Samantaray alleged that he felt systematically sidelined in the regional party and was repeatedly blocked from meeting party president Naveen Patnaik, whom he still considers his “political guru.” He explicitly blamed bureaucrat-turned-politician V K Pandian for creating the circumstances that forced his resignation.
Political observers note that Samantaray’s nomination follows a familiar strategic playbook used by the BJP. Last year, the party successfully fielded former BJD MPs Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta under similar circumstances—both leaders resigned from the BJD, joined the BJP, and were promptly re-elected to the exact same seats they had vacated.
Following his resignation from the Upper House, the Election Commission announced that the by-election for this lone Rajya Sabha seat from Odisha will take place on June 18, though voting will only occur if more than one candidate remains in the fray.
The formal poll notification was issued on June 1, with June 8 set as the final deadline for filing nominations. The scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on June 9, and candidates have until June 11 to withdraw their names.
Given the BJP’s commanding majority in the 147-member Odisha Assembly, the election of Samantaray is certain. Speculation within political circles suggests that both the opposition BJD and Congress will choose to skip the contest altogether rather than field dummy candidates.
