Bhubaneswar, Mar 22: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his condolences and paid tribute to Dr. Damodar Rout, the late former Odisha minister and esteemed BJD leader. Dr. Rout passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar during the early hours of Friday.
The Chief Minister along with 5T and Naveen Odisha Chairman VK Pandian visited Sankha Bhawan to offer his respects to the late leader Dr, Rout.
Numerous leaders from various political backgrounds and individuals from different walks of life also visited Shankha Bhawan to pay their final respects to the veteran leader.
Dr. Rout, who held ministerial positions in significant departments during both Biju Patnaik and Naveen Patnaik's Cabinets, had his mortal remains placed at Shankha Bhawan for supporters and well-wishers to pay their tributes. Prior to this, his body was taken to the premises of the Odisha Assembly.
Damodar Rout was MLA for seven terms from the Erasma (five times) and Paradip (twice) Assembly constituencies from 1977 to 2019, and served as a minister in various important departments of the Odisha government.
Born on July 2, 1942, to Kapil Charan Rout and Sneha Rout, Damodar Rout embarked on his political journey by winning a seat in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on a Janata Party ticket in 1977. He continued his political career with different party affiliations, including Janata Party (Secular), Janata Dal, and finally BJD.
Throughout his tenure, Rout remained a stalwart figure in Odisha politics, contributing significantly to governance and policy-making. He served as Minister of Information and Public Relations and Panchayatiraj Department along with Social Welfare and Women and Children departments
