'Systematically belittled in party': Rajya Sabha MP Debasish Samantray quits BJD

BHUBNESHWAR: Rajya Sabha MP Debasish Samantray on Monday resigned from the primary membership of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), citing alleged neglect and marginalisation within the party. In his resignation letter addressed to BJD president Naveen Patnaik, Samantray thanked the party leadership for nominating him to the Rajya Sabha and giving him the opportunity to serve the people of the undivided Cuttack district while raising Odisha’s issues at the national level, according to news agency PTI.In the letter, Samantray wrote, "I do hereby resign from the primary Membership of BJD today, i.e. 25 May. I shall always be indebted to you for nominating me to Rajya Sabha. I take this opportunity to express my sincere and deepest gratitude to you for giving me an opportunity to serve the people of undivided Cuttack district and to raise issues of Odisha at large, at the national level."He further added, "I have always dedicated myself to the interest of the party and have, over the years, worked for the party with utmost conviction and commitment.

However, I feel that, of late, I have been systematically belittled in the party and that the party does not require my services. Therefore, I have taken this hard decision in public interest and request you to accept my resignation." Reacting to the development and speculation over Samantray possibly joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), BJP leader Rabindra Narayan Behera claimed the political landscape in Odisha was shifting in favour of the ruling party.

"Right now, BJD's wickets are falling one by one in Odisha. See, the governance that was there... look at the state of TMC, the governance of BJD was 'dabanggiri' (hooliganism). It wasn't good governance. It was more about creating terror. That's why it's having an effect now. Everyone was suffocated in that party. The Bharatiya Janata Party's double-engine government has come to Odisha and good governance is going on.

'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' the slogan given by PM Modi is going on. That's why today we heard that Rajya Sabha MP Debasish Samantaray is resigning from the Rajya Sabha." said Behera. On reports of Samantray joining the BJP, Behera said the party would abide by the decision taken by its leadership.He added, "Whatever decision the party takes, we are with it. We will definitely welcome him if the party takes that decision. Whatever decision the party takes, we will welcome it."