Tathagata Satpathy’s ‘I am independent, not in BJD’ comment sparks political debate

Bhubaneswar: Former Dhenkanal MP Tathagata Satpathy sparked a political debate in Odisha politics after he said, ‘I am independent, not in BJD.’

While speaking to the media persons on the occasion of the inauguration of the Sankha Bhavan, the new office building of BJD in Bhubaneswar, Satpathy said, “I am independent, not in BJD and have come here as a journalist. I came because the BJD president invited me. The Sankha Bhavan is looking great.”

“I have no interest to contest in the 2024 elections,” he added.

It is to be noted here that Tathagata Satpathy was a member of the 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th Lok Sabha. He represented the Dhenkanal constituency and was re-elected for the fourth time in 2014. He was also the Biju Janata Dal’s chief whip in the lower house of the Parliament. He did not contest the 2019 election and had announced not to stay away from politics and work as a journalist. Since then he was not seen in any of the programs of the State ruling party.

However, his attendance at the inauguration of the Sankha Bhavan today has now become a subject of discussion in Odisha politics.

Several senior politicians and BJD leaders and workers from across the State attended the inauguration of the Sankha Bhavan.