BJD removes Sulata Deo from Rajya Sabha Chief Whip post

Senior leader Manas Mangaraj on Wednesday replaced Sulata Deo as BJD's Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha. The BJD appointed Manas the chief whip of the party in Rajya Sabha with immediate effect.

“Shri Manas Ranjan Mangaraj, MP, Rajya Sabha is hereby appointed as Chief Whip of the Biju Janata Dal in Rajya Sabha with immediate effect,” the party said in a press release.

Sharing the news, Manas took to X (Twitter) and wrote, “I express my gratitude to BJD President and Hon'ble CM Shri @Naveen_Odisha for reposing trust in me and appointing me as the Chief Whip of Biju Janata Dal in Rajya Sabha.”

“I will leave no stones unturned to live up to his expectations, and will try my best to do justice to the role assigned to me,” he further added.

The sudden move by the party to replace Sulata with Manas has raised several questions. There are speculations that BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik isn’t too happy with Sulata Deo which could be the reason for her replacement.

Earlier, Naveen was seen upset with Sulata during the party's ‘Jansampark Padyatra’ in Bhubaneswar. Manas Mangaraj is also the Media and Public Relations Advisor to the Odisha government and a leader from the Chilika Assembly constituency.