Bhaskar Rao Quits BJD, Launches New Political Outfit in Rayagada

Bhubaneswar : In a dramatic turn in Odisha politics, former Rajya Sabha MP and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader N Bhaskar Rao resigned from the party on Sunday. Alongside Rao, former minister Lal Bihari Himirika and several local leaders and workers from Rayagada district also tendered their resignations, marking a significant jolt for the ruling party in southern Odisha.

Rao announced the launch of a new political outfit named *Biju Swabhiman Mancha* following a meeting at his residence. The gathering was attended by elected panchayat representatives, councillors, and senior leaders. The development came shortly after the BJD leadership declared Jagannath Saraka as the new district president of Rayagada, a move that reportedly triggered the exit.

Speculation about Rao’s next move had been doing the rounds for weeks. The tension became visible when the BJD office signboard in Rayagada, inaugurated in 2024 under Rao’s leadership, was painted over in white.

Factionalism within the Rayagada unit of BJD has persisted for nearly a decade, primarily between the camps led by Bhaskar Rao and Sudhir Das. Rao’s supporters alleged that the state leadership consistently ignored them and made decisions contrary to their interests, worsening internal discord.

The rift had already taken a toll on the party’s electoral fortunes. In 2019, BJD lost both the Rayagada Assembly and Koraput Lok Sabha seats. The situation worsened during the 2024 elections when Assembly tickets were distributed without Rao’s consultation, fueling deeper divisions. Several leaders loyal to him had resigned at that time as well.

With Saraka’s appointment as district president, Rao’s group felt further sidelined. Their collective exit and the formation of *Biju Swabhiman Mancha* now set the stage for a new political battle in Rayagada and Koraput, ahead of the next polls.