Bhubaneswar: Veteran politician and former minister Damadara Rout here at the private hospital while under treatment following critical illness. He was 82.
The health condition of the senior BJD leader was critical after he suffered a massive heart attack on March 18 night. He was on a life support system at a private hospital and his brain was not functioning well. The doctors declared him dead this morning.
Dr.Rout, a veterinary doctor, had joined politics in the 1970s. He was first elected to Odisha Assembly in 1977.
He had been elected to the Assembly seven times—five times from Erasama constituency in Jagatsinghpur and twice from Paradip—in between 1977 and 2014.
Apart from his traditional Erasama seat, the seasoned politician had fought against Congress heavyweight Basanta Biswal from Tirtol constituency in Jagatsinghpur in 1995 Assembly elections. He was defeated from both seats.
Dr.Rout later joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) after the regional party was formed soon after Biju Patnaik’s death in 1997.
Dr.Rout served as Minister of 22 Departments (some depts for several times) during 1979 to 2017, which includes Panchayati Raj Minister in Janata Dal Government under legendary leader Biju Patnaik from 1990 to 1995.
Dr.Rout, who was elected as MLA from 2000 to 2019 on Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ticket, served as a minister several times in the BJD Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He had handled portfolios like Health, Excise and Agriculture in the successive BJD Governments.
He was expelled from BJD in 2017 on grounds of ‘anti-party’ activities. He unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Assembly elections from Erasama-Balikuda constituency on BJP ticket. The BJD revoked the expulsion of the veteran leader on January 1 this year when he was under treatment in a hospital here.
Several leaders cutting across party lines expressed their grief over the demise of the former minister.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his grief over his demise. Taking to ‘X’, he wrote, “I am saddened to learn about the demise of senior BJD leader and former minister Damodar Raut. This is an irreparable loss in Odisha politics. His work for the service and betterment of the people will always be remembered. May his soul rest in peace and my condolences to the bereaved family members.”
Paying tribute to the departed soul, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wrote, “I am saddened to hear the news of the demise of former minister and senior leader Damodar Rout. He was active in politics for many years and engaged himself in public welfare work. Odisha has lost an articulate and experienced politician. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to the bereaved family.”
BJD Veteran A U singh Deo expressed grief for the departed soul and said “He was an asset for BJD and an intelligent personality”.
State BJP President Manmohan Samal and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jayanarayan Mishra also expressed their grief.
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