Kujang: Expelled senior BJD leader Damodar Rout continued his tirade against the BJD government and party leaders Sunday. Dama represents Paradip in the Assembly.
Attending a ‘Swabhiman Sabha’ programme at Jaldharpur in Paradip, he hit out at the government criticising everyone from the CM to Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debashis Samantaray.
He said the meeting was an answer to the questions raised by some BJD leaders as to why he was not holding any ‘Swabhiman Sabha’ in Paradip as he was holding such meetings in other parts of the state after his expulsion.
This time Dama hit out at Health Minister Pratap Jena saying that he doubts whether Jena will be elected to the Odisha Assembly in the 2019 general elections.
“He was thrashed by the people of his constituency (Mahanga). So he is afraid to visit my constituency,” Dama said. “I have doubts on whether he will win in the next election,” he added.
Dama let himself loose while taking jabs at BJD leaders including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
“I was expelled from BJD for raising my voice against corruption. I will serve the public as long as they have faith in me,” he said.
He directed flak at Debashis saying that he was the one who used to create ruckus at Biju Babu’s meetings, and now he is at the helm of the party.
Four Dalits were killed in a firecracker explosion at Debashis’ rally after launching the Biju Shramik Sangha. But he did not help the affected families, Dama said.
Regarding MP Kulamani Samal, he said if Samal is an MP today it is because of him. “I brought him into politics. But instead of focusing on helping people he is rehabilitating his relatives.”
Meanwhile, Jena and Cuttack Barabati MLA Debasish Samantaray attacked Dama during the party’s ‘Jana Sampark Padyatra’ at Rahama in Jagatsinghpur district.
“I have heard many people saying that when Dama was in the party they were being exploited. But after his exit they are happy,” said Jena.
“I contested from Cuttack as per the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and now if he asks me to contest from Paradip I will definitely do that,” said Samantaray.
Kujang Panchayat Samiti Chairman Smruti Ranjan Behera, Vice Chairman Pushpalata Behera and Kujang Sarpanch Bharat Bhushan Nayak spoke at the meeting chaired by Jadumani Pradhan.
PNN