Daijiworld Media Network – Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Mar 1: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday expelled former MLA Pravat Ranjan Biswal from the party for “indiscipline and anti-party activities,” hours after he questioned the leadership’s decision on Rajya Sabha nominations.

Biswal had publicly opposed party president Naveen Patnaik’s decision to field Santrupt Misra and noted urologist Datteswar Hota for the Upper House. Speaking to reporters, the former Cuttack-Choudwar MLA said decisions on Rajya Sabha nominations should be taken collectively and asserted that long-serving party workers deserved recognition.

“Decision, if taken unilaterally, will not be accepted,” Biswal said, while expressing opposition to Misra’s candidature. Sources said he also raised objections during discussions between Patnaik and party MLAs.

A grassroots leader with strong local support, Biswal was elected MLA three times — first as an Independent in 2004 and later as a BJD nominee in 2009 and 2014.

He had earlier been suspended following the May 29, 2012 alleged coup attempt by Patnaik’s former adviser Pyarimohan Mohapatra, but the suspension was revoked in February 2013. He subsequently contested and won the 2014 Assembly elections on a BJD ticket.

In September 2017, Biswal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a chit-fund scam case and later released on bail. He was denied a party ticket in the 2019 Assembly elections, with his son Souvic Biswal contesting instead. Souvic has represented the Cuttack-Choudwar constituency since 2019 and was re-elected in 2024.

Senior BJD MLA Pramila Mallik said the party’s political affairs committee had authorised Patnaik to take a call on the Rajya Sabha nominations. She maintained that all MLAs were consulted before the announcement and asserted that the party remains united.