Bhubaneswar: Expelled Congress MLA Suresh Kumar Routray will campaign for his two sons, nominated by two different parties to fight the upcoming simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Odisha.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has picked Routray’s younger son Manmath Routray to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Bhubaneswar constituency.

On the other hand, the Congress party has given ticket to Routray’s elder son Siddharth Routray to fight the 2024 Assembly polls in Odisha from Nimapara seat.

“The Congress party has expelled me for six years. Now, I have no association with any political party. So, I will campaign for my both sons in the upcoming twin elections in the state,” said Routray.

Routray further said he would urge the voters of Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency to vote for BJD and its candidate Manmath Routray during the 2024 polls.

“I would urge the voters of Nimapara to vote for my elder son Siddharth and the Congress party,” he added.

The veteran politician further said that he would support Congress candidate Pruthvi Ballav Patnaik, the son of former Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, in Begunia Assembly seat in Khurda district.

“Former Chief Minister JB Patnaik was my political guru. I will campaign for his son Pruthvi Ballav in Begunia seat. I will urge the voters to vote for Pruthvi Ballav in Assembly polls and for my son Manmath in Lok Sabha polls,” said Routray.

Notably, the Congress party had expelled Routray on grounds of indiscipline and anti-party activities on April 15.

Routray had resigned from all poll-related committees of the Congress party soon after his younger son Manmath joined the BJD in Odisha and got ticket from the regional party to fight the Lok Sabha polls from Bhubaneswar seat.