Bhubaneswar, 09 April (H.S.): Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday accepted the resignation of senior party MP Dr. Sasmit Patra as the leader of the BJD parliamentary party in the Rajya Sabha.

An official party statement said, “President Biju Janata Dal Naveen Patnaik has accepted the resignation of Dr. Sasmit Patra, MP, as leader of the BJD parliamentary party, Rajya Sabha, today.”

Patra, who has held the position since 2022 following his re-election to the Upper House, submitted his resignation on Wednesday. The move comes amid speculation that Santrupt Misra, a corporate leader and political secretary to Patnaik, who was recently elected to the Rajya Sabha, may succeed him as the BJD parliamentary party leader.

A two-term Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha, Patra has been a prominent voice in Parliament on both national and regional issues. As the BJD’s national spokesperson, he has represented the party in New Delhi and articulated its stance on key legislative matters in the Upper House.

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda