Bhubaneswar: A social media post by the daughter of BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi has triggered a political storm in Odisha, with screenshots of her Instagram story going viral and drawing sharp reactions from party workers as well as social media users.
Archita Sachin Rahar, Sarangi’s daughter, shared an Instagram story featuring reports related to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In a follow up post, she wrote that she expected someone from “DP’s PA” to ask her mother to get the story removed, adding, “I won’t delete it.” The remark quickly gained traction online, fuelling speculation about differences within sections of the BJP in Odisha.
As screenshots of the posts spread across social media platforms, supporters and critics alike weighed in. While some defended Archita’s right to express her views on her personal account, others questioned whether the family members of senior political leaders should make comments that could be interpreted as politically sensitive.
The controversy soon prompted a response from Aparajita Sarangi herself. Without referring directly to her daughter’s posts, the Bhubaneswar MP publicly expressed support for Dharmendra Pradhan, praising his leadership and reaffirming her respect for him. Her statement was widely seen as an attempt to distance herself from the online controversy and put an end to speculation.
Despite the backlash, Archita reportedly stood by her social media posts, making it clear that she had no intention of deleting them. Her remarks became one of the most discussed political topics on social media, particularly in Odisha, where both Sarangi and Pradhan are among the BJP’s most prominent faces.
The episode has once again highlighted how personal social media activity can quickly become a political issue, especially when it involves the family members of public representatives. What might otherwise have remained an individual opinion soon turned into a wider debate over political messaging, party discipline and freedom of expression in the age of social media.
So far, the BJP has not issued any official statement specifically addressing the viral Instagram posts. Neither Archita Rahar nor the offices of Aparajita Sarangi and Dharmendra Pradhan have commented further on the matter.
With the debate continuing online, the incident serves as another reminder that in today’s digital landscape, even a single social media story can become the centre of a national political conversation within hours.
ALSO READ: Caught On Camera: BJP Leader Allegedly Slaps, Abuses Two Men Over CJP Protest
-
-
-
-
