Cong MLA Suresh Routray’s son Manmath joins BJD, to contest against Aparajita

Bhubaneswar: With election less than 2 months away, Manmath Routray, younger son of six-time Congress MLA Suresh Routray, joined the BJD on Wednesday. Manmath is set to contest from Bhubaneswar, the constituency where incumbent BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi is running again.

Manmath reached the BJD headquarters, Sankha Bhawan, in a procession of supporters and some councillors before being formally inducted into the party fold in presence of Rajya Sabha members Manas Mangaraj and Sasmit Patra.

Ahead of his joining, the former pilot said both his father Suresh Routray and CM Naveen Patnaik share the same ideology of serving the people of Odisha. “My father has allowed me to join BJD with a heavy heart, but we have to accept change,” he said.

Hours after his joining, the regional party declared nine Lok Sabha seats including Manmath for Bhubaneswar. Sources said the party selects Manmath to checkmate Aparajita who defeated BJD’s Arup Patnaik by a margin of more than 20,000 votes in 2019 elections.

Reacting to his induction in BJD, Suresh Routray said that he will not campaign for Manmath but will pray for his victory. “I am committed to serving Congress till the end of my life. I tried to convince my son for over a month but failed. He requested me to allow him to chart his own course. I expect BJD to show him the respect that he deserves,” he said.