Senior Cong Leader Suresh Routray Bids Farewell To Odisha Assembly, Says His Sons Will Take On From Where He Left

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Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s veteran Congress leader Suresh Chandra Routray, who had announced retirement from politics, bade farewell to Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Coming out of the Assembly on the last day of the budget session, the Jatni MLA told the media persons that he was stepping down to give way to his two sons.

“I have turned 80. I am tired. My body can no more cope with the hectic activities of a legislator. When my two sons agreed to join politics, I decided to retire from the active politics. I hope that they will take on from where I left,” he said.

“Since I have taken a firm decision to retire from politics, I will not contest elections. My younger son Manmath Routray will contest from Jatni and elder son from Nimapara. I hope the people will support them the way they did to me,” said the MLA who had announced returement in February, 2023.

On his experience during his long political career, the six-time MLA said he was happy that he was able to help the people in all possible ways. “Besides serving the people, I have ensured industrialisation in Jatni and its adjacent areas. During the tenure of JB Patnaik as chief minister, rapid industrialisation was taken up in my constituency,” he said.

He further said he had ensured that all basic amenities including schools, colleges and medicals were available to the people. “I have always fought with government, be it of my party or others, to ensure development of my constituency. My initiative has led to establishment of 48 high schools, 13 colleges, IIT, NISER, Infosys, AIIMS, flyover and Kalinga Stadium,” he added.

The Congress leader was elected to the Assembly six times from Jatni. In 1977, he won on a Janata Party ticket. Later, he represented the constituency in 1980, 1985, 1995, 2000, and 2019 as a Congress candidate.