Sam Pitroda resigns as technical advisor to Odisha government

BHUBANESWAR: Prominent telecom engineer and policymaker Sam Pitroda today resigned as the technical advisor to the Odisha government, official sources said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik accepted Pitroda's resignation, who earlier in the day had put in his papers, according to the chief minister's office.

Pitroda, whose resignation was demanded by opposition BJP after he was named as the chairman of AICC's overseas cell, was enjoying the status of a cabinet rank minister as technical advisor to the state government.

He, however, did not avail any facilities and took a token salary of Re 1 a month, sources said.

Earlier, the BJP had protested against Pitroda's appointment as the chairman of Congress overseas department.

The BJP had also alleged a nexus between the BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and AICC president Sonia Gandhi.