Veteran leader and former Odisha MLA, Suresh Routray, returned to the Congress party on Saturday, ten months after being expelled for indiscipline and anti-party activities.
The new Odisha Congress president, Bhakta Charan Das, revoked the suspension and expulsion of various leaders, sparking enthusiasm among party members.
An emotional Routray expressed gratitude to the party leadership upon his return. The former Jatni MLA, known as ‘Sura Bhai,’ had been expelled in April 2024 for allegedly campaigning for his younger son, a BJD candidate, in the last elections. Routray maintained his loyalty to Congress throughout his expulsion.
“I am back in Congress, which is my home. Thank you, Rahul Gandhi, Congress and Bhakta Das for bringing me to my home. I was sacked from the party and it was injustice to me. I am so happy. I have returned to my home today,” the former legislator said.
Describing Congress Bhawan as a temple for him, he said he has been worshipping Jawaharlal Nehru since 1962.
Routray had decided not to contest the elections last year. However, his younger son Manmath was a candidate for the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency as a BJD candidate, while his elder son Siddharth contested on a Congress ticket from the Nimapada Assembly seat.
