Congress leader Sura Routray’s son Manmath joins Biju Janata Dal

Biswajeet Swain Published On : Mar 27, 2024 at 12:16 PM

Bhubaneswar: In a significant development ahead of the elections in Odisha, Manmath Routray, son of senior Congress leader Suresh Kumar Routray (popularly known as Sura Routray), joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), today.

Manmath joined the regional party at the Sankha Bhawan here in the presence of BJD leaders Manas Mangaraj and Sasmit Patra.

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Earlier, he reached the BJD headquarters in a procession with his supporters.

In his reaction, Manmath highlighted the common ideology between his father and Chief Minister & BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, emphasizing their dedication to serving the people of Odisha.

“I have many aspirations, and there is much work to be done. Our family has a tradition of being closely connected with the people. Although my father allowed me to join the BJD with a heavy heart, we understand the importance of embracing change,” Manmath said.

Later in the day, the BJD fielded Manmath as its MP candidate for Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat.

Notably, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) had in September last year ‘suspended’ Manmath from the party after he said that he would not contest the elections on Congress ticket. However, he had later dismissed the order saying he was never a member of the Congress.