Sasmit Patra not villain, chief advisor responsible: BJD MP points finger at VK Pandian, claims deal struck

In a startling revelation that could send tremors through Odisha’s political landscape, senior BJD MP Debashish Samantaray on Saturday launched a scathing attack, implicitly targeting ‘Chief Advisor’ of the party V.K. Pandian without naming him, and accusing him of manipulating political decisions within the party while operating from outside the democratic framework.

Addressing the media in what is being seen as one of the most explosive statements from a sitting BJD MP, Debashish said, “Sasmit Patra is not the villain here. He does not take decisions; he merely follows instructions. The real power lies elsewhere — with the Chief Advisor.”

“Chief Advisor Controls Politics Without Being in it”

Samantaray made it clear that while the Chief Advisor holds no elected office and is not a political leader in the traditional sense, he exerts undue influence over party affairs. 

He revealed that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had initially expressed opposition to certain political moves in internal meetings. “In at least two meetings, Naveen Babu had clearly said that we should oppose the Waqf Bill. But suddenly, the decision was reversed. Who changed the decision and why — this is something Naveen Patnaik himself must now reflect upon,” said Samantaray, hinting at behind-the-scenes manipulation.

Sasmit Patra Defended, Spotlight on Pandian

While many BJD leaders had targetted party MP Sasmit Patra’s role in recent Parliament voting, Debashish defended him. “Sasmit is not the one to blame. He merely acts on instructions. The instructions come from above,” he reiterated, clearly indicating toward V.K. Pandian, though without directly naming him.

“A Big Deal Has Been Struck”

Perhaps the most explosive part of Samantaray’s statement was his allegation of a ‘big deal’ between the Chief Advisor and the BJP. 

“Yes, a big deal has happened. The Chief Advisor has made some kind of arrangement with the BJP,” he declared. Without revealing details, he even hinted at recent voluntary retirement (VRS) taken by the bureaucrat being part of this larger conspiracy.

“You all know who has recently taken VRS. I leave it to your understanding,” he said cryptically, again alluding to Pandian, who took voluntary retirement and entered politics under the BJD banner.

Growing Dissent Within BJD?

This fiery outburst by a senior BJD MP is being seen as a sign of deepening dissent and disillusionment within the BJD. 
Just hours after Minister Krushna Chandra Patra and Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati made similar statements regarding Pandian’s control over BJD, Samantaray’s comments added more fuel to the fire.

Also Read: Congress MLA Tara Bahinipati claims internal rift, leadership crisis in BJD; hidden BJP alliance

As of now, the BJD has not issued an official response to these sensational allegations, but political observers say the party may no longer be able to contain the storm within.