Odisha’s Media Baron Soumya Ranjan Pattnaik Assumes Charge As Eastern Media Chairman

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s media baron and politician Soumya Ranjan Pattnaik assumed charge as chairman of Eastern Media Private Limited on Thursday, ten months after he stepped down from the position.

Sources said Soumya Ranjan was accorded a warm welcome as he reached Sambad Bhawan in Bhubaneswar in the morning before taking charge as chairman of the media group.

It may be recalled that Soumya Ranjan had stepped down as ‘Sambad’ editor and chairman of Eastern Media Pvt Ltd in October, 2023 owing to personal reasons.

Tanaya Patnaik, his daughter and executive director of Sambad Group, had succeeded him as editor of the leading vernacular daily. Similarly, D R Patnaik had been made chairman of Eastern Media.

Soumya Ranjam, who was then an MLA from Khandapada, was removed as BJD’s vice-president in September 2023 amid his critical views on the rising influence of V K Pandian in the previous government and the party. He was later expelled from the regional party for anti-people activities following allegations from the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

He contested the recent elections from Ghasipura Assembly constituency as an independent candidate but lost.