Bhubaneswar, April 8 -- In a significant political development, Sasmit Patra resigned from the post of parliamentary party leader of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The move has intensified discussions around internal discord within the party.

Sources indicate that Patra submitted his resignation to BJD president Naveen Patnaik. The resignation comes amid reports that several MPs of the party had written to the leadership, expressing their desire for a change in leadership in the Upper House.

It is learnt that the 'demand to remove' Patra gained momentum on the very day newly elected BJD MP Santrupt Misra took oath in the Rajya Sabha. Party insiders express that a section of MPs formally communicated their concerns to...