Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has announced key changes in its Rajya Sabha leadership, appointing senior MP Manas Ranjan Mangaraj as the Leader of the Parliamentary Party in the Upper House and Sulata Deo as Deputy Leader and Chief Whip.
The appointments, effective immediately, follow the recent biennial Rajya Sabha elections and come amid internal restructuring after the resignation of previous floor leader Sasmit Patra.
In an official communication from BJD president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the party on Sunday formally notified the appointments and requested due recognition from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for the new office bearers.
Mangaraj, a Rajya Sabha member from Odisha since July 2022, has previously served as the party’s Chief Whip in the Upper House and held roles such as BJD General Secretary (Media Affairs) and media advisor to the Odisha government.
Deo, also elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2022, previously served as Chief Whip before Mangaraj took over that role in 2023. She was an advisor to the state’s ‘Mission Shakti’ women’s empowerment programme and also a BJD spokesperson.
The reshuffle occurs as BJD maintains a presence in the Rajya Sabha with six members following the 2026 polls, where the party secured one seat, won by Santrupt Misra, while the BJP claimed three amid reported cross-voting. Patra’s recent resignation as floor leader came amid reported dissent among the MPs.
