Bhubaneswar: In a significant development in the BJP camp which could dent saffron party’s prospect in Bijepur bye-poll, veteran politician and former Odisha minister Dr. Damodar Rout today resigned from the BJP.
In his resignation letter to state unit president, Basanta Kumar Panda, Raut wrote, “After conclusion of the General Elections, my presence and involvement in party programmes and policy making process are not being felt necessary” .
Earlier this month, he had announced his retirement from electoral politics, marking the end of a 45-year-long political career.
Expressing resentment, the former Paradip MLA had said, “No one from the BJP held discussion with me over the Bijepur bypoll. The number of party MLAs has increased from 10 to 23 in the Assembly polls, following which my presence is not necessary for them (BJP).”
Notably, Rout was expelled from the BJD in September, last year for allegedly making anti-party statements and later joined BJP.