Bhubaneswar, February 28 The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha expelled senior leader Pravat Ranjan Biswal on Saturday on charges of indiscipline and anti-party activities.
The action came hours after Biswal, a former MLA, publicly opposed party president Naveen Patnaik's decision to nominate Santrupt Misra as the BJD candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
In an official order, BJD vice-president (headquarters) Pratap Jena said, "Sri Pravat Ranjan Biswal, State Council Member of Biju Janata Dal, is hereby expelled from the party for indiscipline and anti-party activities, effective immediately."
Biswal, a three-time MLA, had gone to Naveen Niwas, Patnaik's residence, where the names of the party candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls were announced. He was accompanied by his son, Souvic Biswal, a BJD legislator.
Sources said that Biswal attempted to speak to Patnaik when he was making the announcement, but his attempt failed. He was told that Patnaik would speak to him later.
However, Biswal allegedly openly opposed Misra's candidature, even though the BJD's political affairs committee (PAC) had earlier authorized Patnaik to decide on the Rajya Sabha candidate.
PAC member Pramila Mallik had stated that all the BJD MLAs and MPs would support whatever decision Patnaik takes regarding the Rajya Sabha polls. However, Biswal was the only leader who openly objected to Patnaik's decision, sources said.
After the expulsion, Biswal said, "I have worked hard for the party. But the way some leaders are being promoted is not acceptable. I will write a letter to the BJD president and want to discuss certain matters with him."
Biswal, who was first elected to the assembly as an Independent MLA from the Cuttack Sadar seat in 2004, and later joined the BJD. He was elected twice as a party candidate from Choudwar in 2009 and 2014. Later, his son Souvic was elected from the same constituency in 2019 and 2024.
BJD MP Debashish Samantray criticised Biswal for daring to challenge the party chief's decision. "Biswal was instrumental in a foiled coup attempt against Patnaik in 2012," Samantray alleged.
