Former Odisha MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra dies at 77

19 Marach, Bhubaneswar

Former MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra passed away at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai at 9.40 PM on Sunday.

He was 77 and is survided by his wife Pratibha, two daughters and a son. The mortal remains of the great political figure will arrive in Bhubaneswar on Monday, according to family sources.

Pyari Babu was suffering from lungs ailment for quite a long tome and was undergoing treatment by a team of specialist doctors at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Hinduja Hospital. He was put on artificial life support after his health condition turned critical on Friday.

The bureaucrat-turned politician Pyari Babu was the former chief strategist of the Biju Janata Dal and margadarshak of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

However ,once known as ‘Chanakya’ in Odisha politics ,Mohapatra was suspended from the BJD following an alleged coup attempt against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in 29 June, 2012, when the CM was in London.

Mohapatra formed his independent party, Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) on 10 April 2013 and served as an MP in Rajya Sabha for two terms which ended on July 1, 2016.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MP Baijayant Panda, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra , Odisha Pradesh Congress President Prasad Harichandan ,former MP, Baistamb Parida, BJD leader Surya Narayan Patra , former finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai offered deep condolences on the passing away of Mohapatra.

Born in Talcher on January 25,1940, Mohapatra was an effective IAS officerduring his career , and had served as the Principal Secretary to former Chief Minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik. BM.