Paradip: BJD’s Cuttack Barabati MLA Debasish Samantaray, who, days before, had made it clear that he is determined to oust senior MLA Damodar Rout from Paradip, once again opened up on his interest to fight from Paradip Assembly constituency in the upcoming general elections.
During BJD’s Jana Sampark Padyatra Samabesh in Biswali village under Kujang block, Samantaray stated that he is ready to shoulder the responsibility of Paradip and keen to contest from the constituency.
Samantaray said, “Damodar Rout used to bring outsiders to Paradip constituency but stopped people of the area from entering his gate. His birth place is Ersama, but I was born in Paradip and time has come for me to heed the clarion call of my birthplace.”
In response to Samantaray’s comments, Dama Rout said, “People are well aware of what I am and how Samantaray is. I don’t understand why he is running after Paradip, may be he does not have self respect. His character is even worse than that. He used to be a goon and his intention is contracting with the support of goons. I don’t need to worry about anything.”
Dama further stated that a case is already pending in the High Court against Samantaray over death of five persons in a vehicle explosion near Kujang Police Station.
A few days ago, Samantaray had said that it was he who was instrumental in delimitation of Paradip constituency but since the seat was alloted to Rout, he had to forego Paradip.
Dama ridiculed this stating that CM Naveen Patnaik and Debasish share a 'Khoon Maaf' relationship. “Paradip is not an idle patch of land that anyone can come and start cultivating. Biju Babu made me 'Chowkidaar' of Paradip and people won't accept him,” Rout had said.