Former CM Hemananda Biswal Passes Away

Bureau,Odishabarta

Bhubaneswar: Senior Congress leader and former Odisha chief minister Hemananda Biswal passed away here at a private hospital on Friday, his daughter Sunita said. He was 82.

Biswal served as chief minister twice from December 7, 1989 to March 3, 1990, and from December 6, 1999 to March 5, 2000. The first tribal chief minister of the State, he was also Deputy CM from March 15, 1995 to May 9, 1998.

Biswal joined Congress in 1972 and was elected to the Assembly for the first time in 1974 and again re-elected from 1980 to 2004 from Laikera Assembly segment in Jharsuguda district. He was elected as an MP from Sundargarh in 2009-14.

A six-time MLA, he served as minister of several departments including Home, Industries, Panchayati Raj, General Administration and Health. He is survived by five daughters Sabita, Sanjukya, Manjulata, Sunita and Anita.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi condoled his demise.

Expressing his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Biswal, Rahul Gandhi said, “He was a stalwart of the Congress Party and would be remembered as a great tribal leader.”

OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik said Congress has lost a strong fighter and a protector of tribal interest. Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan said: “Saddened to know about Biswal’s demise. Odisha lost an efficient and experienced politician.” BJP MP Suresh Pujari said Biswal’s demise was a major loss for the State and western Odisha in particular.