Odisha MLA Suresh Routray Rejects Son’s Move, Says Manmath To Contest From Jatni As Congress Candidate

Bhubaneswar: A day after his son Manmath announced that he    would not contest the next polls on Congress ticket, veteran leader and Odisha MLA Suresh Routray reacted sharply on Thursday. The firebrand Congress leader strongly rejected his son’s statement.

Routray asserted that Manmath would certainly listen to him and contest the upcoming elections from Jatni Assembly constituency in Khurda district as a Congress candidate.

The six-time legislator was speaking to the media in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, a day after Manmath surprised all by stating that he would not contest the polls on Congress ticket. Manmath, however, did not spell out his exact plan. He did not specify any particular political party that may field him in the upcoming polls.

“My son cannot take a decision on contesting elections on his own. I am sure he will contest the next Assembly polls from Jatni as a Congress candidate,” said Routray.

Stating that he has already spoken to Manmath regarding his statement, he said he has asked his son to go back to his job as a pilot for the time being. “I also asked him as to why he made such a statement,” he said, adding that he has been working as a dedicated Congress worker for the last over 60 years and cannot imagine his son moving to another political party.

The veteran Congress leader had seven months ago announced his retirement from electoral politics and said that his son, Manmath would contest the next polls from Jatni assembly constituency. In June, there were reports that he was ready to take a plunge into politics after quitting his job as a pilot with Air India.

Speaking to local channels, Manmath had on Wednesday said that he is an activist and had been working for Janti but not under any party banner. “I have been advised to look at a long-term career in politics and would make an announcement in this regard in October,” he said.

However, his father’s assertions have given a twist to the issue. It is to be seen whether the veteran Congress leader will be able to convince his son and change his mind.