LIVE TV
Odisha
Recommended Stories
Bhubaneswar: Amid speculations of joining a new political party, senior leader Damodar Rout today clarified that while both the BJP and Congress have approached him with offers to join their flanks, he will give moral support to the party which will dislodge the Naveen-led BJD government.
"I have not joined any party. I have received proposals from BJP leaders from the State. Even Odisha Congress leaders are seeking my cooperation. I tried to create a regional party recently by joining hands with Biju Babu loyalists who have been thrown out by Naveen Patnaik. But nothing has materialised on that front. I have not decided my next course of action and will take a decision in a couple of days after speaking to my supporters. I am a staunch supporter of Late Biju Babu's ideologies and because Naveen Patnaik has totally crushed those ideologies, I will morally support the party which will dislodge Naveen-led BJD," Rout said while speaking exclusively to OTV after his return from Delhi today.
#OTV EXCLUSIVE: I have not joined any party, but have received proposals from the #BJP, while #Odisha #Congress leaders have also sought my cooperation; will morally support the party which will dislodge Naveen-led #BJD: Dama Rout pic.twitter.com/Ol4qp7HPwP
— OTV (@otvnews) March 9, 2019
Earlier in the day, Rout’s Delhi visit fuelled speculations that he was being accompanied by Odisha BJP legislature party leader, KV Singh Deo and might possibly hold closed-door meetings with the BJP leadership.
It may be noted that Rout was dismissed from BJD on September 12, 2018. Soon after his dismissal, talks did rounds that Rout was attempting to unify several Biju Babu loyalists under one umbrella to build an anti-BJD front.
Later Rout announced formation of a new regional political party after joining hands with founder of Samata Kranti Dal, Braja Kishore Tripathy and Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) chief Jagneswar. Rout had hinted that his party would be named Biju Samata Kranti Dal.
