Bhubaneswar: Longtime Congress stalwart Suresh Routray found himself ousted from the party ranks on Monday over accusations of misconduct and actions conflicting with the party’s objectives. Routray, the incumbent MLA representing the Jatni assembly constituency, was served a six-year expulsion verdict by the President of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
The decision to expel Routray stemmed from his active involvement in supporting his son, Manmath Routray, who is contesting for the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency under the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) banner. Despite being issued a prior showcause notice by the Congress for his campaign efforts for his son, deemed detrimental to the party’s interests, Routray continued his support, leading to his expulsion.
With a longstanding association with the Congress, having won six consecutive terms from Jatni and having served as a minister during the JB Patnaik government, Routray’s ties with the party run deep. In response to his expulsion, Routray publicly accepted the decision, extending congratulations to those behind it and expressing satisfaction with the outcome.
However, Routray remained steadfast in his allegiance to the Congress, affirming, “For 50 years, I have devoted myself to the Congress party. I continue to be a member and will remain so indefinitely.”
