Rift in Cuttack BJD! MP Debashish Samantaray skips party’s annual observance

A fresh wave of factional discord has hit the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Cuttack as visible cracks emerged during the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birth anniversary on Friday.

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While the event, held annually at Buxibazar Chhak, went ahead under the leadership of newly appointed district president Prafulla Singh, it was marked by the conspicuous absence of senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantaray and his loyalists.

This year's event saw the presence of Prafulla Singh, Cuttack Mayor Subhash Singh, and other district-level BJD leaders. However, the absence of Samantaray, who has traditionally taken the lead in organising this event in previous years, sparked speculation of deepening factionalism within the district BJD.

Notably, the stage was filled with supporters of both Prafulla Singh and Subhash Singh, further signalling the consolidation of a new power centre in the city of BJD. Subhash Singh, when asked about Samantaray's absence, stated that he had been invited but was unable to attend due to Teacher’s Day commitments elsewhere.

Attempts to reach Debashish Samantaray for his comments were unsuccessful, as the senior remained unreachable.

With the BJD’s internal power dynamics shifting and leadership loyalties being tested, today’s event has become more than a cultural celebration—it is a mirror reflecting the internal tremors within one of Odisha’s much-debated political outfits.

“He (Debashish Samantaray) is busy elsewhere and is not present in Cuttack. We had invited everyone who is linked to Cuttack City. All corporators and ward presidents of the BJD are there. Veteran leaders, who have worked for more than fifty years, are also present, as you see,” Cuttack Mayor and BJD leader Singh expressed.