Though former Athagarh MlA Ramesh Rout, who had won elections in 2009, was disqualified after remaining in position for two and a half years, he is still enjoying facilities of a sitting MlA, said sources.
He has not yet vacated his MlA quarter although many new MlAs and Ministers are waiting to get quarters allotted in their names.Besides, it is yet to be made clear why a disqualified MlA should continue to get financial benefit from the Government exchequer.Following a by-election to the constituency, his mentor Ranendra Pratap Swain had won from the seat. Rout was fielded as nominee from BJD on the consent of Swain in 2009 when the latter’s nomination papers were rejected at the eleventh hours.
Rout who had never thought of becoming a MlA even in his wildest thought won the seat riding on the popularity wave of BJD then. He had started as a small-time business man in Athagarh and later, henchman of Swain.As an MlA he served his constituency well. Since he hails from a poor farmer family and is polite and simple, he was in the good book of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.