New Delhi, May 25 -- In a major setback for the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Rajya Sabha MP Debasish Samantray resigned from the party on Monday, citing deep-seated dissatisfaction with the party's current leadership structure and the continued influence of former bureaucrat turned politician VK Pandian.

Samantray formally submitted his resignation letter to BJD President Naveen Patnaik in the morning before heading to tender his resignation from his Upper House seat.

"This morning, I sent a letter of resignation from my primary membership to the BJD President, Naveen Patnaik. I outlined certain reasons in that letter. Then, I went to submit my resignation from the Rajya Sabha seat," Samantray told ANI.

The outgoing MP articulated a clear br...