A day after resigning from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and stepping down from the Rajya Sabha, senior politician Debashish Samantaray is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Samantaray, who ended his long association with the BJD on Monday, is expected to formally join the BJP in the presence of senior central and state leaders during a programme reportedly scheduled for 11 am.

Resignation Followed By Political Shift

On Monday, Samantaray resigned from the primary membership of the BJD and later submitted his resignation as a Rajya Sabha member to the Chairman of the Upper House.

While announcing his departure, he criticised the party leadership and stated that he had taken the decision in the interest of the people. Describing the move as a difficult one, he said it had been made keeping public interest in mind.

His resignation marked a significant political development in Odisha, where he had served the party in various capacities over the years.

BJP Leaders Expected At Joining Programme

According to reports, Samantaray is expected to attend a BJP camp in New Delhi and participate in an important induction programme.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda are among the leaders likely to be present during the event.

Reports suggest that Samantaray confirmed his participation in the BJP programme on Tuesday. It is also being claimed that the BJP leadership reached out to him and assured him of a respectful role within the organisation.

Debashish Samantaray had also expressed dissatisfaction with the BJD leadership, alleging that despite making repeated attempts to seek an appointment with party president Naveen Patnaik, he was unable to secure a meeting. 

He cited this among the issues that had contributed to his growing discontent within the party.

Speculation Over Future Role

Political circles are abuzz with speculation regarding Samantaray’s future responsibilities within the BJP.

Reports indicate that the party may entrust him with a significant organisational or political role if he formally joins. There is also speculation that he could once again be nominated to Parliament or be assigned another major responsibility within the party structure.

Also Read: Debashish Samantaray blames VK Pandian for exit after quitting BJD

However, no official announcement regarding any prospective role for Samantaray had been made at the time of reporting.