Odisha's Former CM, Prominent Tribal Cong Leader Hemananda Biswal Dies at Age 82
Biswal also represented Sundergarh Constituency in the Lok Sabha, and was a six-time MLA from Jharsuguda district, besides being the state's chief minister twice. (Representative image/Shutterstock)
Condolence poured in after the news broke. OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik said Congress has lost a strong fighter and a protector of tribal interest.
- PTI Bhubaneswar
- Last Updated:February 25, 2022, 22:17 IST
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Former Odisha Chief Minister and prominent tribal Congress leader Hemananda Biswal died while undergoing treatment for pneumonia here at the age of 82 years Friday, family members said. Biswal's daughter Sunita said the former chief minister breathed his last at a private hospital here. He was suffering from pneumonia and is survived by five daughters- Sabita, Sanjukya, Manjiulata, Sunita, and Anita.
Biswal also represented Sundergarh Constituency in the Lok Sabha, and was a six-time MLA from Jharsuguda district, besides being the state's chief minister twice. He was elected chief minister for the first time for the period December 7, 1989, to March 5, 1990, and again from December 6, 1999, to March 5, 2000. He was the first tribal chief minister of Odisha. He was elected to the Assembly for the first time in 1974 and continued till 1977. Later he become an MLA in 1980 and held the post till 2004 from the Laikera Assembly segment. Biswal started his career in panchayat politics after a brief stint as a school teacher in the Jharsugudda district.
Condolence poured in after the news broke. 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.
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