Odisha Assembly polls: Expelled BJD MLA Damodar Rout joins BJP
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Had Recently Removed Him From His Cabinet And Later Expelled Him From The BJD.
Damodar Rout, an MLA in the Odisha Assembly and former minister in the BJD government, on Thursday joined the BJP in presence of senior party leaders. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had recently removed him from his Cabinet and later expelled him from the BJD. Rout joined the BJP in the presence of union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and party general secretary and in-charge of Odisha Arun Singh. Rout said he would work for the ouster of the Patnaik government in the Assembly elections scheduled to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.
Pradhan said his joining the BJP will strengthen the party in the state. Rout had been a minister in all the four governments headed by Patnaik and was seen to be close to him before falling out with the BJD president.
He is the second BJD bigwig to switch over to the saffron camp. Recently, Baijayant Panda also joined the BJP.
For all the Latest Assembly Elections News, Odisha Assembly Elections News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
More from Assembly Elections
Naveen Patnaik thanks the Prime Minister for air connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Rourkela
Arvind Kejriwal's Ministers Go By Their Choice, Take Oath In Different Ways
Arvind Kejriwal Becomes Delhi Chief Minister For Third Consecutive Time, 6 Ministers Also Sworn-In
Arvind Kejriwal 3.0: Full List Of Ministers In Aam Aadmi Party Government
'I Forgive All Those Who Abused Me': Arvind Kejriwal After Taking Oath As Delhi Chief Minister