Independent MLA Ramesh Rout, who went "missing" after submitting his resignation letter a fortnight ago, today withdrew it after meeting the Orissa Assembly speaker, claiming he was forced to quit under threat by some BJD leaders, and sought police protection.
"I was threatened by some BJD leaders of Athagarh to tender my resignation as an MLA," Rout, who surfaced here today after going incommunicado since June 20, told reporters after meeting Speaker Pradip Amat here.
The speaker said the police had been directed to provide security to the MLA.
"Rout has said that he had resigned under pressure. The police have been directed to provide him protection," Amat told reporters.
The MLA said he was in Athagarh area during the period. "But I was staying away from my home as BJD activists had threatened me," he alleged.
He, however, did not disclose the names of the leaders who threatened him to resign.
Rout submitted a fresh letter to the speaker saying he was withdrawing his resignation as he did not put in the papers on his own.
In his June 20 letter, the MLA had said that he was resigning on his own to pave the way for senior BJD leader Ranendra Pratap Swain to seek election from Athagarh assembly constituency.
As he had sought police protection, the MLA was lodged at the state guest house here.
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