The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday (April 13, 2026) informed the Rajya Sabha about the appointment of Manas Ranjan Mangaraj as the new leader of its Parliamentary Party in the Upper House.

The appointment follows the resignation of Sasmit Patra, who stepped down after informing BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Mr. Mangaraj, a first-time Rajya Sabha MP, will lead the party in the Upper House, while Sulata Deo has been appointed deputy leader and chief whip.

At a press conference held at the party office, senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra and vice-president Pradeep Amat welcomed the appointments and congratulated both Mr. Mangaraj and Ms. Deo.

Addressing the media, Mr. Mangaraj said BJD MPs have consistently raised issues concerning the State’s interests with sincerity, and that their performance and discipline have always been appreciated in Parliament. He added that the party’s voice in the Rajya Sabha would remain strong and assertive on matters relating to Odisha in the days ahead.

The regional party currently has six members in the Rajya Sabha. However, it does not have representation in the Lok Sabha after losing all its seats to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 general elections.

Mr. Patra’s tenure as leader of the BJD Parliamentary Party in the Rajya Sabha had drawn controversy. During the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, he allowed party MPs to vote according to their conscience. While some BJD members opposed the Bill, he supported it, prompting sections within the party to publicly demand action against him.