"I have tendered my resignation on moral ground. In view of the coming panchayat elections, I have taken the move to safeguard the BJD's image," Maharathy told the media after handing over the resignation to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Asserting that he wants the culprits to be punished and the 19-year-old Dalit girl to get justice, Maharathy said his resignation was not the outcome of any pressure from any quarter but to protect the ruling BJD's image. Denying the allegations against him, he said, "I am not a coward, I am a stalwart. I am ready to face any inquiry."
The five-time member of Legislative Assembly, who had been made a minister on May 10 last year, said he had full faith in the judiciary and the truth would come out despite a campaign by the opposition political parties to tarnish his image.
The move came a day after the chief minister took stock of the situation and said that a decision on the fate of Maharathy would be taken in a day or so. Patnaik had earlier said that "extremely strong" action would be taken against the persons found guilty in the gangrape case in Pipili.
Not satisfied with Maharathy's resignation, the opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party said it was an eyewash and a drama and demanded that the chief minister step down on moral ground. "Maharathy's resignation is not enough. It is a drama. We want the chief minister to resign. Our battle will continue," Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik said.
Making the same demand, state BJP President Jual Oram said Patnaik must resign on moral ground and the agitation would continue to ensure justice to the rape victim, now undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack.
