Odisha: Damodar Rout Quits BJP

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Oct 16, 2019 at 9:10 AM Updated On : Oct 16, 2019 at 9:20 AM

Bhubaneswar: Veteran politician, BJP leader and former Odisha minister Damodar Rout today resigned from the party.

“After conclusion of the General Elections, my presence and involvement in party programmes and policy making process are not being felt necessary,” he said in his resignation letter sent to BJP State President Basanta Kumar Panda.

Odisha: Damodar Rout quits electoral politics

Earlier this month, he had announced his retirement from electoral politics, marking the end of a 45-year-long political career. His move came after his name was not enlisted in the list of star campaigners of the BJP for the Bijepur bypoll.

Expressing resentment, the former Paradip MLA had said, “No one from the BJP held discussion with me over the Bijepur bypoll. The number of party MLAs has increased from 10 to 23 in the Assembly polls, following which my presence is not necessary for them (BJP).”

Notably, Rout was expelled from the BJD in September, last year for allegedly making anti-party statements. He later joined the BJP in March, this year before the Assembly Elections in the state.