BJP leader and former Minister Damodar Rout on Thursday announced his retirement from electoral politics, marking the end of his 45-year-long political career.
He took the decision not to contest polls anymore after his name did not figure in the list of star campaigners of the BJP for the Bijepur by-election declared by the party on the day.
Expressing resentment over the absence of his name in the panel, Rout said, “No one from the BJP held any discussion with me over the Bijepur by-poll. The number of the party MLAs has now increased from 10 to 23 in the last Assembly polls, for which my presence is (perhaps) not necessary for them (BJP).”
“However, I will continue to remain in touch with the people after retirement from electoral politics and work for their welfare,” Rout added.
Notably, Rout had been expelled from the BJD in September last year for anti-party statements. He joined the BJP in March this year before the Assembly elections and was defeated as the party candidate in the Erasama-Balikuda constituency.