Pradip Kumar Amat, Speaker, Orissa Assembly
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Bhubaneswar ( Orissa ) : With Athagarh MLA Ramesh Rout still missing, Orissa Assembly speaker Pradip Kumar Amat on Tuesday summoned him for personal appearance on or before July 6.
Acting on the media reports on the reported disappearance of the Independent MLA a day after tendering resignation from the House on June 20, the Speaker sought Mr Rout's presence before him in person to explain whether he tendered his resignation from the Assembly voluntarily or under pressure.
"I want Rout to depose before me personally to state if he resigned voluntarily or under any pressure. I will take a decision on his resignation basing his personal explanation," Amat said here.
The Speaker also wrote a letter to Orissa director general police Manmohan Praharaj directing him to give protection to the legislator.
Mr Rout raised a political storm here following his sudden "disappearance" soon after submitting his resignation to the Speaker. He handed over a one-line resignation letter to the Speaker without citing any reason.
Later, Mr Rout told reporters that he was quitting the House to pave the way for the ruling BJD leader and four-time MLA from Athagarh Ranendra Pratap Swain to return to the Assembly in a by-poll.
Mr Swain was disqualified in the recently held Assembly polls following non-submission of the "original" party ticket along with nomination. Mr Swain is all set to challenge the rejection of his nomination in the Orissa High Court in a day or two.
Mr Rout has remained untraceable since June 21. The resignation was viewed with suspicion in the political circle here when a letter, purportedly written by him to the Speaker, appeared coinciding with his "disappearance."
In the letter, which was circulated to the media, Mr Rout alleged that he had resigned under "undue pressure" and to protect himself and his family. He said he wanted to continue as an MLA.
Meanwhile, the BJP's Athagarh block unit filed an FIR on Mr Rout's missing with the local police station. The party has threatened to launch an agitation if the police failed to trace the MLA.
