Naveen Patnaik expels BJD Veteran Damodar Rout from Party
ONI Bureau: The inevitable has finally happened. As speculated for the last few days, BJD supremo and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has expelled Dr. Damodar Rout from the party. Although no reason was specified in the press release, it is believed that Dr. Rout was ousted for speaking against the party on public forum.
Paradip MLA Dr. Damodar Rout had put the party on back foot with a series of corruption allegations such as Sapling Scam, Omfed Scam and Cooperative Bank Loan Scam. Several BJD leaders from Jagatsinghpur District including Bishnu Das and Prashant Muduli had recently met the CM seeking strong action against Dr. Rout, who has been part and parcel of Janata Dal and BJD since 1977.
Dr. Rout was sacked as the Cabinet Minister and then as the Vice President of the party in December 2007 after he started speaking against the system. Damodar Rout was known for his close proximity to late Biju Patnaik whom he always considered as his political mentor and idol. Dama Rout was instrumental in foiling the May 29, 2012 coup by Pyari Mohan Mohapatra in Naveen Patnaik’s absence.
After the expulsion, Damodar Rout refused to comment, saying he has nothing to say against anyone.