A day after former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Baijayant Panda joined the BJP, senior MP Tathagata Satpathy of BJD on Tuesday announced his decision to quit politics.
The Dhenkanal MP informed media about his decision to stay away from electoral politics and to focus on journalism from now.
“I am not going to stay in any political party. I am returning to my old profession of journalism,” said Satpathy.
“Since Biju Patnaik had brought me to politics, I announce not to contest elections on his birth anniversary today,” he added.
“I had taken this decision some time back. I am happily quitting politics. I have no pressure. The only pressure on me is my son’s pressure. He wants me to stay at home and focus on journalism. Biju Babu had brought me to active politics. I am retiring from electoral politics on the auspicious day of his birth anniversary,” Satpathy told media.
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The 63-year-old Satpathy triggered speculations of his quitting politics on Monday when he tweeted about attending attended the 11th day ritual (shraddha) of an acquaintance in Angul district along with seven BJD MLAs. “Lunched and happily bid adieu to all,” he tweeted.
Satpathy will meet chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday and formally announce his decision of not contesting elections anymore
Tathagat Satpathy, a four-time MP from Dhenkanal Lok Sabha constituency, is the son of former Odisha Chief Minister Nandini Satpathy.
He is the owner and editor of the daily Odia newspaper ‘Dharitri’ and the English daily ‘Orissa Post’.
