Second blow to BJD in a month as its Rajya Sabha MP switches to BJP

The development came a day after BJD chief and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik said there is a “sense of insecurity” among the minorities and announced to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

“I do hereby tender my resignation from the Membership of Rajya Sabha today, i.e. 6th September 2024; having taken this decision consciously. I take this opportunity to express my profuse gratitude to you for the opportunities provided to me to raise issues of public importance, and of my state Odisha, in the House. I could not have done it without your constant guidance,” said Kumar in his resignation letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The Vice-President’s office wrote on X that Kumar’s resignation has been accepted “with immediate effect”.

Moments after Kumar’s resignation from the Rajya Sabha, the party expelled him for “anti-party activities”.

A statement issued by the BJD signed by Patnaik said Kumar had let down the party that sent him to Rajya Sabha and “hopes and aspirations of people of Kalahandi district”.

Originally from Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district, Kumar (48) has an MBA degree from Oxford University and a masters’ degree in public administration. Before joining BJD, Kumar had also worked with the World Economic Forum and United Nations Development Programme. Known for his election management strategies, Kumar played a crucial role in preparing BJD’s poll plan in as many as 40 seats in the western Odisha in 2014 and 2019 polls.

He was appointed special Secretary of State planning board in January 2016 by the erstwhile BJD government.

Kumar was elected to the Rajya Sabha unopposed in April 2020 while his tenure is scheduled to end in April 2026.

Resignation of two Rajya Sabha members of the BJD within a month comes as a major setback to the party, especially in light of its defeat in both Lok Sabha and assembly polls this year.

After the Lok Sabha results, the BJD changed its stance towards the BJP-led NDA government and announced to be a “strong and vibrant” Opposition in Parliament.

It’s a foregone conclusion that the BJP will bag the seat Kumar has vacated given its numbers in the state assembly.

While the BJP had one Rajya Sabha member from Odisha as its candidate Ashwini Vaishnaw had won the seat with BJD’s help earlier this year, the number increased to two recently after it renominated Mohanta in the recent by-election.