A day after dismissing him from the ministry over his alleged anti-Brahmin remarks, Odisha Chief Minister and BJD preside🍒nt Naveen Patnaik today removed Damodar Rout from the post of party vice-president.
";BJD president Naveen Patnaik has been pleased to relieve Dr Damodar Rout from the post of vice-president, Biju Janata Da൩l," Odisha Minister and BJD vice-p♓resident Usha Devi said in a statement.
Patnaik also removed Rout from the responsibility of the partys observer in Dhenkanal district with𓆏 immediate effect, Devi said✤.
The chief minister has yesterday dropped Rout, who ꦍwas Agriculture minister over his anti-Brahmin remarks at a public meeting in Malkangiri dis🦋trict.
"The Chief Ministers stand is very clear. Yesterday, he had dismissed Rout from the ministry in the capacity as the Chief Minister. Today, he removed him from party posts as party chief. The action has followed after his irresponsible remarks against a community," BJD spokesman Prashant Nanda told💫 reporters.
Earlier in the day, Rout in his reaction had said that he was a Biju Patnaik loyalist and would contin♋ue to remain so.
"I w🔯as elected by the people to serve them and not to become a minister. I will continue to work for the people as an MLA," Rout said.
Rout also clarified that he was dismissed as he did not resign when the chief minister wanted yesterday afte꧟rnoon.
Opposition BJP, how𒉰ever, dubbed Patnaiks action as a political ♉stunt.
"BJD believes in caste and communal politics. Chief M🌼inister Naveen Patnaik has dismissed Damodar Rout to mislead people with some other motive," BJP spokesperson💟 Sajjan Sharma had said earlier in the day.
ꦡMeanwhile, senior Congress leader and former minister Suresh Routray said: "It is injustice to remove the senior leader like Rout from the ministr🍌y. Rout has a lot of contribution towards development of the state." PTI AAM RG
