Dama To Form New Party In Biju’s Name By October-End

Damodar Rout

Bhubaneswar: Three weeks after his expulsion from the BJD, veteran leader Damodar Rout on Wednesday announced that he would form a new party in the name of Biju Patnaik by the end of October this year.

“At present, there is not a single leader in the BJD who has seen Biju Patnaik, worked with him and is influenced by his ideals. There are some leaders whose only aim is to stay in power in the name of the legendary leader. But in the new party, there will be genuine BJD leaders,” Dama told mediapersons here.

Speculation was rife in political circles that Dama would form a new party after his expulsion from the BJD on September 12.

Dama had recently hinted on the formation of a new party comprising leaders who are staunch followers of Biju Patnaik.

He had become an eyesore for the BJD leadership for exposing ministers and bureaucrats for their alleged involvement in several scams including the Cooperative Bank loan, sapling plantation and supply of polythene to OMFED, which had given the Opposition a shot in the arm to corner the government during the recently concluded monsoon session of the State Assembly.

Following the allegations by the party workers and leaders, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered his expulsion from the party.