Odisha Congress Leader Sura Routray Not To Contest Polls, Son To Enter Politics

Bhubaneswar: Veteran Congress leader and Odisha MLA Suresh Routray on Thursday announced his retirement from electoral politics, saying he will not fight any poll battle in the future.

The firebrand Congress leader, who represents Jatni in the state Assembly, told reporters in Bhubaneswar that his younger son Manmath Routray will now make an entry into politics and contest the elections from Jatani Assembly constituency.

Stating that he has been working as a loyal Congress man for the last 55 years, 80-year-old Routray said his son will also contest as a Congress candidate.

“I will not contest elections anymore. Having worked in Congress for over 55 years, I am already 80 years. Now my youngest son Manmath will contest from Jatani on Congress ticket,” the senior leader said.

The Congress stalwart further said that he made a courtesy call on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday and discussed about the achievements made by his elder son Sidharth in mountaineering.  The discussion was confined to Sidharth’s success as a mountaineer and no political issue figured at the meeting,  Routray said.

It may be noted that Sidharth Routray scaled the highest peak in the world, Mt Everest last year.