Firebrand Odisha Congress Leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra dies
06 November, Bhubaneswar
Firebrand Odisha Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra passed away on Sunday evening at a private hospital in Gurgaon.
Popularly known as ‘Lulu Bhai’among the youth, the Congress leader was suffering from a prolonged illness of liver and was undergoing treatment since last month. The 52 year old died of multi-organ failure at the Gurgaon Medant Hospital.
The former working president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee was elected to the Legislative Assembly from Brahmagiri constituency in 1995, 2000 and 2004.
An extremely popular leader among the youth, he was a former NSUI and Youth Congress president. The three-time Congress MLA represented Brahmagiri assembly segment in a row from 1995 to 2009 and was executive president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC).
A graduate in history and political science from BJB College, Lulu rose the ladder from student politics.
He enjoyed the support of youth and student Congress cadres throughout his political career, which was considered his biggest political asset till his death. His supporters had formed ‘Lulu Sena’ who worked for any cause he took up. He was extremely vocal against and critical of Naveen Patnaikgovernment regime.
According to his family sources , Mohapatra was critical since Sunday evening. “He had met with an accident in 2010 after which he had liver issues and was undergoing treatment for the same. His condition became critical since afternoon today and worsened by late night,” said a party member.
Fondly known as Lulu Bhai, Mohapatra was close to late Congress leader and former Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik. He was from legendary Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar’s dynasty.
Survived by wife and a daughter, Mohapatra’s last rites will be conducted in his home town in Brahamagiri, Puri. He is son of renowned Odisha educationist and retired professor of English Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra.
Family sources said his body will be flown to Bhubaneswar on Monday and will be taken to his native place in a procession before cremation..BM