Suspension From Odisha Congress Illegal, Says Manmath; Suresh Routray Also Reacts

Bhubaneswar: Hours after Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) suspended senior leader Suresh Routray’s younger son for ‘gross violation of discipline’, Manmath on Friday said the party should have been aware that he is a central government employee and cannot become a member of any political party.

“If Congress thought of me as a potential candidate, it should have got my background checked. I have been stating in media that I am a central government employee, a pilot with Air India, which was taken over by an MNC. Though I am grateful to the person who proposed my name as a PCC member, the Congress committee should have verified if I could hold a party position legally. It first committed a mistake by including me in the membership list and then again by issuing a letter for my suspension,” he said.

The trained pilot resigned from job around 2.5 months ago and is currently no the notice period. “I will be getting a clearance later this month as per the office rules,” he said.

Manmath also questioned the showcase notice issued to him by the Disciplinary Action Committee. “As I am not a member of the PCC, serving a show cause notice and suspension order is both illegal.”

Also Read: Odisha Congress Suspends Suresh Routray’s Son Manmath From Party For ‘Indiscipline’

He further said that he now had a clarity on his next course of action. “I will meet my father and tell him how his party acted without any research and any thinking/maturity. The series of incidents is also a go-head for me to embark on the decision that I have taken,” he added.

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

Earlier speaking to media, the six-time MLA from Jatni Suresh Routray said that there was no dispute in his family. “My youngest son Manmath is still in service. His resignation has not been accepted yet. Right decision will be taken at the right time. He will contest from Jatni,” he again asserted.

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

He added that he is said with his suspension from the party. “I hope that the party will reconsider the decision,” he added.

Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja, however, claimed that Manmath was a PCC member and he was issued a show-cause notice for  making statements against the party. “He, however, did not respond to the notice and following which, he was suspended as the party does not entertain such indiscipline,” he said.

Saluja, however, said that the Routray senior should not be dragged into this controversy.