Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former minister Ananta Das died early on Sunday at his Bhubaneswar house. Family sources verified that he was eighty-five and had been suffering from age-related diseases for a protracted period.
Four times MLA from the Bhograi constituency, Das was a towering presence in Odisha politics. Elected as a BJD candidate to the State Legislative Assembly in 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019, he occupied various important roles in the Naveen Patnaik-led government. He was Chairman of the Balasore District Planning Board, Higher Education Minister, Chief Whip of the government, and Industries Minister over years.
Born on August 28, 1940, in Kurutia village of Bhograi block in Balasore district, Das committed his political life to the growth of his constituency and the state. Odisha’s political scene has been vacant since his death as leaders from many political backgrounds show great grief and honor his efforts.
