Bhubaneswar: BJD president and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday laughed off the corruption charges levelled against his government by expelled party leader Damodar Rout.
The chief minister returned here on Thursday after attending the Odisha investors' meet in New Delhi.
On being asked about Rout's allegations, Naveen laughed aloud and said: "Against whom? Well, what can I say?" The 76-year-old party veteran was expelled from the BJD on Wednesday night for indulging in anti-party activities. Explaining the reasons for taking action against Rout, Naveen said: "Dama babu has always been making irresponsible statements, and his allegations are fruitless and ridiculous."
On the speculation that Rout, along with other disgruntled and expelled BJD leaders, would form a new party and throw a challenge to him, Naveen said it would have no impact in Odisha.
"It is their business. But, I don't see it having any impact in Odisha," he said.
Another expelled BJD leader Baijayant 'Jay' Panda on Thursday met Rout, who had said he would not join either the Congress or the BJP.
Rout, however, stepped up his attack on the government. "The sooner Naveen leaves Odisha the better for the state," he said, adding that he might launch an Anna Hazare like campaign to expose the Naveen government.
On the necessity of expelling Rout, a party insider said that though he was dropped from the ministry and party's vice-presidentship for irresponsible remarks, he continued to violate party discipline. Party sources cited his statements related to anganwadi workers, Brahmin and Dalit communities while justifying his expulsion.
"When he was dropped from both the positions, it should have been signal enough for him, but he continued to ignore the party discipline," the insider said.
He said: "Despite him being dropped several times from the ministry and being taken back in good faith, the party showed patience and stood by him. But, it seems that he was bent upon violating the party discipline and indulging in anti-party activities and, therefore, this decision."
The party maintained that Rout could have used the party forum for airing his grievances, but he went public violating the essence of party discipline.
On the issue of allegations of corruption raised by Rout, the party leader said: "It's political opportunism at its best. While he was minister as well as the party's vice-president, he did not utter a word in public. If he had concerns, he could have aired it in the meetings and with the government. He never did that. Now talking about corruption is flying a kite in a rainy day."
With party taking a tough stand on Rout, there is speculation about his future.
Rout maintained that he would contest the next election as an Independent candidate. However, political observers feel that Rout would meet the same fate as that of Prafulla Ghadei, Bijoy Mohapatra, Ramakrushna Patnaik, Kumudini Patnaik, Panchanan Kanungo and Kamala Das who in the past had been expelled from the party in a similar manner.
Most of them are yet to return to the political mainstream despite making several attempts. "Naveen is enjoying popularity and confidence of people. Most of the leaders have realised that without Naveen's support it is not easy to win elections. Those, who failed to understand this reality, have gone into oblivion," said a senior party leader.
