Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra resigns as BJD Leader of the party in Upper House

By B.Maharana
Bhubaneswar, April 08
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra has resigned as the Leader of the party in the Upper House. He submitted his resignation to BJD president Naveen Patnaik today.
He has been discharging the responsibility as the leader of BJD since 2022 in Rajya Sabha.
The move comes amid indications of internal discussions within the Biju Janata Dal regarding leadership in Parliament.
Meanwhile, party sources indicate that consultations are underway to decide his successor in the Rajya Sabha.
The development comes at a time when the regional party is already facing intraparty conflict over the management of the party since its loss of power in Odisha. Patra’s exit from the leadership role in the Rajya Sabha adds to questions about unity within the BJD ranks.
This move coincides with the recent oath-taking of new BJD Rajya Sabha member Dr Santrupt Misra..And some of the party members in Upper House had also reportedly written to BJD supremo to oust Patra from the post of Party leader in Rajya Sabha..