Bhubaneswar, Sep 9: Two Rajya Sabha MPs from Odisha's opposition party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), have resigned within a month and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), prompting calls for introspection within the BJD. While some party leaders suggest this could significantly impact the BJD, others believe it will have little effect.
The departure of Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar from the BJD to join the BJP is seen as a significant setback for the regional party, which has governed Odisha for 24 years. Following these resignations, the BJD, which currently has no members in the Lok Sabha for the first time since its founding in 1997, is now left with seven MPs in the Rajya Sabha. Of Odisha's 10 Rajya Sabha seats, nine were previously held by the BJD, while one is held by BJP's Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was elected to the Upper House with BJD's support.
The seven remaining BJD Rajya Sabha MPs are Sulata Deo, Sasmit Patra, Manas Mangaraj, Niranjan Bishi, Munna Khan, Debasish Samantray, and Subhashish Khuntia.
Senior BJD leader and former minister Amar Satpathy emphasized the need for the party to introspect following the resignation of the two MPs. "If an ordinary member quits, it may not have much impact. However, when an MP leaves, it changes the dynamics. We need to introspect and take corrective measures," Satpathy said.
Amid speculation that more BJD MPs might defect to the BJP, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Manas Mangaraj asserted that all party MPs stand firmly behind BJD leader Naveen Patnaik. "We will always stand by Naveen Patnaik and the BJD through thick and thin. At the same time, people will never accept the way BJP is undemocratically poaching elected lawmakers from other parties to boost its numbers. This is a sheer murder of democracy," Mangaraj posted on X.
Mangaraj also described Kumar’s resignation as "unfortunate and a betrayal of trust." He added, "Only you (Kumar) know how much trust our beloved leader Naveen Patnaik placed in you. You were always honored and rewarded by the BJD. But, your decision to leave the party at this crucial juncture is deeply painful for us. Both the BJD and the people of Kalahandi feel betrayed."
On the other hand, Mamata Mohanta suggested that more defections from the BJD could occur, as there are several "disgruntled elements" within the party. Mohanta, who recently left the BJD to join the BJP as a Rajya Sabha member, remarked, "Many leaders are feeling suffocated in the BJD, and some may quit, just like Sujeet Kumar and I did."
