Dama Rout to form new party by Oct-end

Bhubaneswar: Expelled BJD leader and former minister Damodar Rout on Wednesday said he would form a new party in the name of Biju Patnaik by the end of October this year.

“At present, there is not a single leader in the BJD who has seen Biju Patnaik, worked with him and is influenced by his ideas. There are some leaders whose only aim is to stay in power in the name of the legendary leader. But in the new party, there will be genuine BJD leaders,” Dama told media persons here.

He also said that former minister Prafulla Ghadei had shown interest in joining the party, but backed out after receiving a call from chief minister’s private secretary fearing that it could be risky for his son who is in BJD.

Rout said former MP Baijayant Panda is open to joining the party.

Panda recently quit the ruling party days after he was suspended from BJD.

However, Baijayant said he will make his stand clear on his future course of action.

“Getting queries about comments of Sr leaders re a new party. I’m meeting various ppl & discussing the future of Odisha politics. I remain open to ALL options. As & when i take a decision about my future course, the public will hear it from my own mouth, not thru anyone else,” tweeted Panda.

Getting queries about comments of Sr leaders re a new party.
I'm meeting various ppl & discussing the future of Odisha politics.
I remain open to ALL options.
As & when i take a decision about my future course, the public will hear it from my own mouth, not thru anyone else 🙏🏼

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) October 3, 2018