Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Congress on Friday suspended Manmath Routray, son of six-time MLA from Jatni Suresh Routray, from party for ‘gross violation of discipline’.
“You have clearly given statement in media that you are independent and you have no connection with any political party. Though you are a PCC member, you have particularly said that you don’t belong to Indian National Congress. You have also said that you are free to visit BJP office and BJD office. You were served a show cause notice yesterday but you didn’t respond to it. The Disciplinary Action Committee considers it to be a gross violation of discipline so you are suspended from the party,” the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) said.
This came a day after the senior Congress leader asserted that his younger son Manmath would contest the next election from Jatni Assembly constituency on a Congress ticket, contradicting the latter’s earlier statement to media.
Speaking to some local channels on Wednesday, Manmath said that he had taken the decision to not contest on a Congress ticket after consulting people of Jatni constituency, who suggested that he should look at a long-term career in politics, and would reveal the name of the party in October. A week back, Routray senior had also said that his son would pick the party from which he wished to contest the upcoming elections. This had led to speculation that he might join the BJD in October.
Also Read: Odisha MLA Suresh Routray’s Son Manmath To Contest From Jatni But Not On Congress Ticket
The unilateral announcement by Routray about his son contesting from Jatni on a Congress ticket has also not gone down well with the party leadership and he may face disciplinary action as well, sources further said.
