Odisha: Demand for Dama Rout’s ouster from BJD intensifies

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Sep 11, 2018 at 11:50 AM Updated On : Sep 12, 2018 at 11:08 AM

Bhubaneswar: A day after a couple of BJD leaders demanded disciplinary action against former minister and senior party leader Damodar Rout, hundreds of party workers belonging to Balikuda-Erasama Vidhan Sabha constituency today reached Naveen Nivas, residence of Odisha CM and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, demanding ouster of the veteran politician from the party alleging his involvement in anti-party activities.

“A number of people had come with complaints about Dr Damodar Rout. I will look into their complaints,” said Patnaik after meeting the party workers.

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While some workers submitted written complaints, others apprised Patnaik about their grievances orally, said party MLA from Balikuda-Erasama constituency, Prashant Kumar Muduli, who led the workers.

Notably, the Jagatsinghpur district unit of the BJD had yesterday demanded disciplinary action against Rout for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities to benefit political rivals Congress and BJP.

Jagatsinghpur district BJD president Bishnu Charan Das and MLA Muduli had submitted separate written complaints to Patnaik alleging that Rout is working towards weakening the party in the area.

Das and Muduli also referred to a function organised by Rout at Erasama on September 8 in which only Congress and BJP leaders were invited. The two said that the Congress and BJP leaders criticised the BJD Government at the meeting in the presence of Rout.

On the other hand, Rout had hit back at the duo saying that Das is an anti-social and Muduli is mentally unstable. “I was removed from the post of party’s vice-president and also from the ministry. What more action can be taken against me?,” Rout had questioned.

“The workers were paid by Das and Muduli to speak against me. Everyone knows who is involved in anti-party activities,” Rout said today.

Worth mentioning, Rout has been under the spotlight for the last few days by alleging scams in purchase of saplings, polythene for Omfed packets and irregularities in cooperative bank loan and health sector.