Former Odisha CM ,veteran tribal leader Hemananda Biswal passes away
By B.Maharana
Bhubaneswar, February 25
Former Odisha Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal passes away on Friday at a private Hospital in Bhubaneswar. Biswal was the first tribal Chief Minister of Odisha.
He was 83 at the time of his death.
Biswal served as the Chief Minister of Odisha twice- from December 7, 1989, to March 5, 1990, and from December 6, 1999, to March 5, 2000.
He was also elected to the Odisha Legislative as Congress MLA six times from Laikera constituency in the undivided Sundergarh district.
For the first time, he was elected as MLA in 1974 from the Congress party.
He was also elected as an MP from the Sundargarh constituency in 2009.
Biswal, a veteran tribal leader , was born on December 1, 1936, in the village of Thakurpada in the present Jharsuguda district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, OPCC Chief Niranjan Patnaik, and several other leaders condoled the demise of Biswal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and wrote: “Anguished by the passing away of former Odisha CM Shri Hemananda Biswal Ji. He was active in public life for many years and worked extensively among people. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family and supporters. Om Shanti.”
Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal expressed deep grief over the passing away of former Chief Minister of Odisha and senior politician Hemananda Biswal. He has expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family of the late leader.
“He will be forever remembered by the people for his outstanding contribution to the progress of Odisha,” said Prof Lal, in his tweet.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep grief over the death of the former CM of Odisha Hemananda Biswal. In his condolence message, Patnaik described late Hemananda Biswal as a capable and popular politician. “His contributions to the betterment of the marginalized sections of society and the collective progress of the state will be remembered,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family of Biswal and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik expressed condolence over the demise of Biswal.
“Sad to hear about the demise of former Odisha CM and senior Congress leader, Shri Hemananda Biswal. He stood for Congress party’s ideals throughout his life. Odisha Congress will miss him dearly. My deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanti,” he said in a tweet.