Amar Satpathy Leaves BJD Amid Criticism

Amar Prasad Satpathy, a veteran leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and former Odisha minister, has publicly announced his departure from the party amid growing internal dissent following its electoral losses. He criticized party leader Naveen Patnaik for not taking responsibility for the BJD's poor performance in the recent assembly elections, where the party failed to secure any Lok Sabha seats against the BJP. Satpathy emphasized that he has not renewed his party membership and feels 'suffocated' within the organization. BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty reacted by suggesting that Satpathy should officially resign if he feels uncomfortable. Amidst this turmoil, Satpathy indicated he is currently distancing himself from active politics, while also noting that other political parties, including the BJP, are in contact with him. The BJD continues to face scrutiny over its leadership and strategy following recent electoral setbacks.