Bhubaneswar: In a major decision ahead of Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, the Governing BJD today revoked the expulsion of former Minister and veteran leader Damodar Rout.
A one-line order issued by party president Naveen Patnaik said the ‘expulsion order of Dr Damodar Rout is hereby revoked with immediate effect.’
Dr.Rout’s expulsion was revoked on “sympathy grounds” as the ailing leader is hospitalised, and has not been actively involved in electoral politics since 2019, sources said.
The seven time MLA and former Minister Dr.Rout was expelled from the party in September 2018. In 2017, he was sacked from the Council of Ministers for his casteist remark against the Brahmin community at a function at Malkangiri and later he was also removed from the post of party Vice-President.
Speaking to media persons, his son and BJD MLA from Paradip, Sambit Routray thanked the party Supremo for the revocation order. Sambit cleared that around two years back had requested the 5T Chairman VK Pandian to revoke the expulsion order.
“In a weak moment, he made a flawed decision and joined the BJP party despite my objections. But, he could not stay in BJP for long and returned back. Since his return, he has been making statements supporting the BJD and Neveen Patnaik,” said an emotional Shri Routray.
He said that the suspension was a shock for the veteran party leader who had been under severe mental pressure after his expulsion. Routray stated that his father would campaign for the party in the general elections ahead if his health condition improves.
Dr.Rout, a seven-time MLA, contested the elections in 2019 for the Balikuda-Erasama constituency seat on BJP ticket but lost to BJD leader Raghunandan Das.
The polls saw Dr.Rout contested on a BJP ticket from the Balikuda-Ersama constituency, even as the BJD fielded his son Sambit Routray in his place from the neighbouring Paradeep constituency. Routray won with nearly 45% of the vote share, but Rout finished third in Balikuda-Ersama, with the BJD candidate winning.
The 81-year-old leader is suffering from various ailments and currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.