Odisha: Jatni MLA Suresh Routray expelled from Congress

Bhubaneswar: The Congress party today expelled Jatni MLA Suresh Kumar Routray on grounds of indiscipline and anti-party activities.

The Congress party has expelled Routray, a veteran politician in Odisha, for six years.

“Taking note of the complaints of indiscipline and anti-party activities, the Congress President has approved the expulsion of Routray from the party for six years with immediate effect,” said a release issued by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary KC Venugopal today.

Routray had resigned from all poll-related committees of the Congress party soon after his younger son Manmath joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha and got ticket from the regional party to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Bhubaneswar constituency.

There were allegations that Routray, a six-time Congress MLA, campaigned for his son Manmath, a pilot-turned-politician for the ensuing polls.

Reacting to the expulsion order, Routray said he would remain in the Congress party till his last breath.

“I will remain in the Congress till my death despite my expulsion from the party. My son has received a BJD ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. But, that does not mean that I am involved in anti-party activities. I will raise the issue before the Congress high command. Many Congress leaders in Odisha have flouted the party discipline and were involved in anti-party activities. However, no action was taken against them,” said the Jatni MLA.