Odisha MP Tathagata Satpathy quits electoral politics to focus on journalism

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Lok Sabha MP Tathagata Satpathy today announced his retirement from active politics to focus on journalism.

The Dhenkanal MP informed media about his decision to stay away from electoral politics.

“I had taken this decision some time back. I am happily quitting politics. I have no pressure. The only pressure on me is my son’s pressure. He wants me to stay at home and focus on journalism. Biju Babu had brought me to active politics. I am retiring from electoral politics on the auspicious day of his birth anniversary,” Satpathy told media.

The four-time MP added that he wants to focus on journalism. There is dearth of fearless journalism in Odisha, he said.

Worth mentioning, the veteran BJD leader had courted controversy on multiple occasions for his opinion pieces in a regional daily edited by him.

While Satpathy’s decision hasn’t come as a surprise as he had been hinting at that, his last night’s tweet was quite a confirmation of sorts.

Today at Bhakti babu's mother's 11th Day after death, Angul. Huge gathering. Nearly my total gang(all not in photo) from all 7 Assembly segments was invited/present. Lunched and happily bid Adieu to all pic.twitter.com/otqtoCZYGq

— Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 4, 2019

He had been to Angul to attend ekadasaha (11^th day ritual) where all the legislators of his parliamentary constituency were present.

The editor of a vernacular and English daily further said that he would apprise Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik of his decision soon.

When asked about whether his decision was in apprehension of not getting ticket to contest polls, the firebrand leader said: “Nobody has the guts to kick me out of the party.”