Odisha MLA Suresh Routray’s Son Manmath To Contest From Jatni But Not On Congress Ticket

Bhubaneswar: Manmath Routray, son of six-time MLA from Jatni Suresh Routray, on Wednesday surprised all by stating that he would not contest the upcoming polls in Odisha on Congress ticket.

This comes seven months after the veteran Congress leader 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 said that he is an activist and have 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.

The former pilot said his father may been keen that he contest from Congress since he has give 60 years of his life to the party. “But I have been given the freedom to take my own decision. I have my own circle, friends and my thinking and identity. Having thought over it on the personal level and after taking into account the views of people from the constituency, I have decided not to contest from Congress in 2024,” he said adding he would take forward his father’s legacy and follow the same formula of selfless service.

Also Read: Odisha Congress Leader Suresh Routray’s Son Manmath Quits Job Of Pilot To Join Politics

Manmath added that he felt the need to clarify this amid numerous speculation about him.

He further said that he had visited his father in Congress Bhawan for some work and also participated in rally organised by the party as it concerned the drainage system and infrastructure development in Bhubaneswar. He further said that it was important to first understand the problems being faced by people before taking the political plunge. “In a democracy, people can take a call on which political they would go for depending on their performance and policies,” he said.