Bhubaneswar, Oct 3 (UNI) Former Minister and Padmapur sitting BJD MLA Bijayraj Singh Bariha passed away in a private hospital here late Sunday night following multi-organ failure.
He was 65.
Family sources said Bariha was admitted to the hospital a few days back and underwent an operation. He had also developed kidney problem and passed away last night while undergoing treatment.
Sources said his body would be taken to the state Assembly and to the BJD office to help the party and state Assembly members to pay their homage to the departed leader before being taken to his ancestral place for the conduct of his last rites.
BJD District President Bariha was regarded as one of Odisha's most powerful leaders.
He was elected to Odisha Assembly five times. He was elected to the state Assembly twice on the Janata Dal ticket in 1990 and 1995 and thrice on the BJD ticket in 2000, 2009, and 2019.
Bariha has also served as a Minister in the BJD government.
Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the members of the Council of Ministers and several leaders across party line condoled the demise of Bariha and expressed their grief over the death.
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