Bhubaneswar, Mar 22: Veteran political leader and former Odisha Minister Damodar Rout passed away early Friday morning while undergoing treatment at a Bhubaneswar-based hospital. He was 82.
Rout's body will be brought to his official residence at Unit-VI in Bhubaneswar, allowing his supporters to bid their final farewells to the departed leader today.
He had taken critically ill after suffering a severe heart attack on March 18, eventually being declared brain dead. His demise leaves a significant void in Odisha's political landscape.
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, Minister of the Panchayatiraj Department along with the Social Welfare Department, and Minister of Women and Children.
Within the Naveen Patnaik Cabinet, Rout held ministerial portfolios spanning Panchayatiraj, Information and Public Relations, Agriculture, Cooperatives, Fisheries and Livestock Development, Health, and Employment.
In addition to his ministerial duties, Damodar Rout actively participated in various legislative committees, displaying his commitment to public service. His close association with Biju Patnaik influenced his decision to leave his profession and enter politics, marking the beginning of his illustrious political career.
