Bhubaneswar: Governing Biju Janata Dal lost a veteran leader on 7 November.
Former Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly and BJD Veteran, Maheswar Mohanty passed away today. He was 67.
Former Minister breathed his last at a private hospital here, where he was admitted after he was diagnosed with a mild brain stroke on 31 October.
Shri Mohanty was a five time Lawmaker from Puri Assembly Constituency. He was first elected as a legislator in 1995 on Janta Dal ticket. Later, he won four consecutive times as BJD nominee.
Started his political career as a Councilor of Puri Municipality, Shri Mohanty held several portfolios in the Naveen Patnaik cabinet including Panchayati Raj, Revenue and Disaster Management, Law, Planning and Coordination, Tourism and Culture.
Shri Mohanty also served as the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 2004 to 2008.
On February 21, 2014 when Shri Mohanty was the Minister Revenue & Disaster Management some miscreants had opened fire at him near Amala club in Puri.
He had sustained bullet injuries on his hand and shoulder and was treated in a private hospital here.
Shri Mohanty was a firebrand and tough leader, who hold the fort of BJD in the coastal zone.
Interestingly, though he was branded as supporter of Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, Shri Mohanty opposed him tooth and nail on the issue of sabotaging Naveen Patnaik Government in 2012 and stood by BJD Supremo.
Shri Mohanty was a strong personality, having strong likes and dislikes.
As a friend he will stood by his friends like the “Rock Of Gibraltar”, said Debi Prasad Mishra, another BJD Veteran.
“We will be missing a great loving and caring friend’, said Shri Mishra, condoling his sad demise.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Chhattisgarh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Speaker Odisha Legislative Assembly, Pramila Mallik, Minister Finance, Bikram Kesari Arukha, Minister Co-operation, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and other condoled his sad demise.
