Bhubaneswar: In a significant political move, Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday revoked the expulsion of veteran leader and former Minister Damodar Rout with immediate effect.
The expulsion of Rout from the party has been revoked by BJD president Naveen Patnaik in an office order issued on the opening day of 2024.
“The expulsion order of Dr Damodar Rout is hereby revoked with immediate effect,” said the one-sentence office order of BJD signed by Naveen.
The decision to bring back the veteran leader assumes significance in the run up to the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state due this year as Rout is considered an influential politician in Paradip area of Jagatsinghpur district.
Though Rout had contested the last Assembly election as a BJP candidate and lost, he is stated to be enjoying the support of sizeable section of the electorate in the area.
Rout subsequently parted ways with the saffron party and many of his statements since then appeared to have been in favour of the ruling BJD.
