Former Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai on Thursday strongly criticised Paradip MLA Damodar Rout for issuing “baseless” statements and misleading people.
Ghadai, also an expelled BJD leader like Rout, said that contrary to Rout’s claim, he would never join a regional party proposed Rout.
He accused Rout of “creating smoke without fire” about his (Ghadai’s) stand on the proposed party. “I have never talked to Pandian (the Chief Minister’s Secretary) nor has the latter to me since I ceased to be a Minister (long ago).”
Then, how Rout stated that he (Ghadai) is reluctant to join the proposed party on Pandian’s advice, Ghadai questioned.
Ghadai said he had already reached the age of 75 and is no longer interested in doing active politics or to enter into electoral battle.
"Though I'm expelled from the BJD, I still believe I'm very much in the party and will continue to work for it," said he.
Ghadai said the Naveen Patnaik Government is committed to development of the State.