Bhubaneswar: The BJD on Monday appointed Manas Ranjan Mangaraj as its parliamentary party leader in the Rajya Sabha, filling the vacancy created by Sasmit Patra’s resignation amid internal dissent within the party. Senior leader Sulata Deo was named the party’s deputy leader and chief whip in the Upper House.“I am grateful to the party leadership for placing its trust in me. We will work collectively and in close coordination to effectively raise and safeguard Odisha’s interests in the Rajya Sabha,” Mangaraj said.The regional party, which has six members in the Rajya Sabha, picked Mangaraj given his proximity to the party leadership. A low-profile leader, Mangaraj served as media adviser to the BJD govt in Odisha from 2019 to 2024. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2022 and is a first-time member to the Upper House. Mangaraj holds an MSc degree from Berhampur University and had declared an assets of around Rs 8 crore in his 2022 poll affidavit.Patra resigned from the post on April 8 following growing resentment among BJD MPs over his leadership. The development came a day after four party MPs wrote to BJD president Naveen Patnaik seeking his removal. In view of the discontent within the parliamentary party, Patra submitted his resignation to Naveen.Although articulate and considered effective in presenting the party leadership’s views in Delhi, Patra was seen by some MPs as “insufficiently proactive” during the recent controversy over BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s allegedly “insulting” remarks linking Biju Patnaik with the CIA.
