Dama Rout Quits BJP, Says He Was Ignored

Bhubaneswar: Veteran leader Damodar Rout on Wednesday resigned from the primary membership of BJP.

Informing the media here, he said he has sent his resignation letter to the state unit party president Basanta Panda.

“Considering my decade-long experience in politics, senior BJP leaders of Odisha had invited me to New Delhi to join the party before the Assembly elections this year. I had campaigned for BJP and against BJD’s corrupt administration during the twin elections. However, these same leaders have not sought my service in party affairs, which has deeply hurt me. I am being ignored despite being in active politics for over 45 years and holding ministerial portfolios. Under such circumstances, I am forced to quit active politics. Besides, I have decided to be involved in electoral politics,” Dama said.

Asked if he will join BJD if given an offer, Dama said he will decide when the time comes.

Commenting on Dama’s resignation, BJP state president Basanta Panda said his party has never ignored him. “There is no discrimination between party workers and leaders as they are all equal. Not a single BJP member is ignored and everyone receives equal respect and recognition. In BJP, all are workers and leaders. Even the Prime Minister is a worker and leader. Besides, the party takes the decision with the consent of all party members and leaders,” he added.

Dama was expelled from BJD on September 22 last year for anti-party activities as he had put the ruling party on the backfoot by raising a series of scams, including the Dankari hill loot in Jajpur district, sapling plantation in Mayurbhanj district, supply of polythene to Omfed, bungling in Cooperative Bank, Black Rose and Ramco Cement Factory issue before the media.

On November 23, 2018, he floated a new political outfit Biju Samatakranti Dal to fight against “gross misrule and corruption” of the BJD government. But his new party did not take off as he did not find any like-minded leader to join his party.

However, he was roped in by the senior BJP leaders who invited him to join the party a month before the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Later, he joined BJP at its party office in New Delhi in the presence of the then party national president Amit Shah, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP Odisha in-charge Arun Singh and Baijayant Panda on March 14 and appointed as convener of the state BJP campaign committee.