BHUBANESWAR: Senior politician Damodar Rout has resigned from the BJP, he said on Wednesday. "I have submitted my resignation to the BJP state leadership. I saw no role for me in the party. I was not involved in any activity after the simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections earlier this year,” Rout told reporters in Bhubaneswar. .
A former BJD veteran, Rout had joined the saffron party at New Delhi in March and unsuccessfully contested the assembly election from Balikuda-Erasama. The former minister and contemporary of Biju Patnaik was expelled from the regional party last year. Rout said he would not join any other party.
In his resignation letter addressed to state BJP president Basanta Panda, Rout pointed out, "I was expelled as a minister and from the BJD because I raised my voice against corruptions in agriculture and cooperation departments. Senior BJP leaders influenced me to join the party to work for the people. But unfortunately, my presence or involvement in party activities seem unwanted.”
Rout was asked to resign as a minster in December 2017 for his alleged casteist remarks. Days later he was removed as BJD vice-president. He was expelled from the regional party in September 2012 after he alleged series of scams in the government.
"I have decided to stay away from electoral politics. But as a follower of Biju babu, I will continue working in public interest. I don’t have anything against the party or leadership,” wrote the seven-time MLA and former minister in Biju’s and Naveen’s cabinet.
State BJP president Basanta Panda said Rout was never ignored in the party. "In BJP, no party worker or leader is ignored. All have to work together. I don’t know why Rout felt ignored," Panda said.
BJP national general secretary Arun Singh, who was in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, said no worker or leader should work feel ignored. They should get involved in party activities on their own. He, however, said Rout’s departure will not affect the party. "When a leader leaves, one feels bad. But this will not have any impact," Singh said.
Rout’s resignation comes days after Ashok Panigrahi, who unsuccessfully fought the 2018 Bijepur bypoll resigned from the BJP recently.
A former BJD veteran, Rout had joined the saffron party at New Delhi in March and unsuccessfully contested the assembly election from Balikuda-Erasama. The former minister and contemporary of Biju Patnaik was expelled from the regional party last year. Rout said he would not join any other party.
In his resignation letter addressed to state BJP president Basanta Panda, Rout pointed out, "I was expelled as a minister and from the BJD because I raised my voice against corruptions in agriculture and cooperation departments. Senior BJP leaders influenced me to join the party to work for the people. But unfortunately, my presence or involvement in party activities seem unwanted.”
Rout was asked to resign as a minster in December 2017 for his alleged casteist remarks. Days later he was removed as BJD vice-president. He was expelled from the regional party in September 2012 after he alleged series of scams in the government.
"I have decided to stay away from electoral politics. But as a follower of Biju babu, I will continue working in public interest. I don’t have anything against the party or leadership,” wrote the seven-time MLA and former minister in Biju’s and Naveen’s cabinet.
State BJP president Basanta Panda said Rout was never ignored in the party. "In BJP, no party worker or leader is ignored. All have to work together. I don’t know why Rout felt ignored," Panda said.
BJP national general secretary Arun Singh, who was in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, said no worker or leader should work feel ignored. They should get involved in party activities on their own. He, however, said Rout’s departure will not affect the party. "When a leader leaves, one feels bad. But this will not have any impact," Singh said.
Rout’s resignation comes days after Ashok Panigrahi, who unsuccessfully fought the 2018 Bijepur bypoll resigned from the BJP recently.
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