Sambit Patra
Dr. Sambit Patra (born 27 November 1973) is an Indian politician and general surgeon serving as a Member of Parliament for the Puri constituency in Odisha since June 2024, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[1] A national spokesperson for the BJP since 2014, Patra is noted for his vigorous defense of the party's positions in media appearances, particularly on television debates.[2] Trained in medicine, he earned an MBBS from Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Sambalpur in 1997 and an MS in General Surgery from SCB Medical College in Cuttack in 2002, before working as a medical officer at Hindu Rao Hospital in Delhi and later transitioning to full-time politics around 2012.[1][3][4] Patra's political career includes contesting the Puri Lok Sabha seat in 2019, where he was defeated, before securing victory in the 2024 elections.[5] His outspoken style has drawn both support from party adherents and controversies, such as complaints over remarks on historical figures and election-related statements.[6][7]Personal Background
Early Life and Education
Sambit Patra was born on 13 December 1974 in Bokaro Steel City, then part of Bihar (now Jharkhand), to Rabindra Nath Patra, an employee at the Bokaro Steel Plant, and Bharti Patra; his family belongs to the Odia Brahmin community.[8][9][10] He completed his schooling at Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Bokaro.[10] Patra pursued undergraduate medical education, earning an MBBS degree in 1997 from Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VSS Medical College), located in Burla near Sambalpur, Odisha.[3][9][11] He later obtained a Master of Surgery (MS) in general surgery in 2002 from SCB Medical College in Cuttack, Odisha.[3][9][4]Medical Career
Patra completed his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, in 1997.[8] He subsequently pursued postgraduate studies, earning a Master of Surgery (MS) in General Surgery from SCB Medical College in Cuttack, Odisha, in 2002.[1][8] Following his specialization, Patra cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Combined Medical Services Examination in 2003, qualifying him for central government medical positions.[3] He then served as a Medical Officer at Hindu Rao Hospital, a municipal facility in North Delhi, where he practiced as a surgeon.[12][13] His clinical experience in general surgery during this period marked the extent of his professional medical practice before transitioning to public service and politics around 2005.[2]Political Career
Entry into BJP and Spokesperson Role
Sambit Patra entered politics in 2010 by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a spokesperson for its Delhi unit.[2][9][8] In this role, he led several party campaigns and engaged in public discourse on behalf of the BJP's Delhi branch.[9] In 2012, Patra resigned from his position as a medical officer at AIIMS to focus fully on political activities.[8][9] That year, the BJP fielded him as a candidate in the Delhi municipal council elections for the Kashmere Gate ward, though he did not secure the seat.[9] Patra's prominence within the party grew, leading to his appointment as a national spokesperson for the BJP in 2014.[2][9] In this capacity, he represented the party's positions on national media platforms, articulating defenses of BJP policies and critiques of opposition viewpoints.[2] He continues to hold the national spokesperson designation as of 2025.[14]Electoral Contests
Patra first contested the Lok Sabha election from the Puri constituency in Odisha as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate during the 2019 general elections, held on April 11 with results declared on May 23.[15] He secured 526,607 votes but lost to the incumbent Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate Pinaki Misra, who received 538,321 votes, by a narrow margin of 11,714 votes.[16] The contest was closely watched, with initial trends favoring Patra before the final tally shifted to Misra.[17]| Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinaki Misra | BJD | 538,321 | ~47.2% |
| Sambit Patra | BJP | 526,607 | ~46.2% |
| Satya Prakash Nayak | INC | 44,734 | ~3.9% |
| NOTA | - | 7,217 | ~0.6% |