Bhubaneswar, May 25: Hours after quitting BJD, Rajya Sabha member Debashish Samantaray on Monday resigned from the Upper House, submitting his resignation to Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chiaroerson C P Radhakrishnan in New Delhi.

After Mamata Mahanta and Sujeet Kumar, Samantaray is the third Rajya Sabha member from the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD), who resigned from the Rajya Sabha ahead of completion of their tenure in the Upper House.

As a result of these developments, the BJD's strength in the Upper House has diminished to five members - Sulata Deo, Subhasish Khuntia, Manas Ranjan Mangaraj, Santrupt Misra and Sasmit Patra - while the party currently has no representation in the Lok Sabha.

Earlier today, in his resignation letter to party president Naveen Patnaik, Samantaray said he has been “systematically belittled in the party.”

“I feel party does not require my services. Therefore. I have taken this hard decision in public interest,” said Samantaray.

“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,” said Samantaray.

“I do hereby resign from the primary Membership of BJD today, i.e. 25th May 2026,” said the veteran leader.

“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 opportunity to serve the people of undivided Cuttack district and to raise issues of Odisha at large, at the national level,” said Samantaray.