Bhubaneswar: Former MLA and BJP leader Niranjan Pradhan passed away on Thursday night following a prolonged illness at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. He was 65.
The news of his death cast a shadow of mourning over Odisha’s politics. Niranjan was elected to the State Assembly in 2004 and 2009 on a BJD ticket. However, in 2019, after being denied a ticket, Niranjan left the BJD and joined the BJP.
His mortal remains will be taken to the State Assembly today, where all party leaders and ministers will pay their last respects. Niranjan Pradhan’s successful political career began with his election as an MLA from Kodala assembly constituency in the 2004 assembly elections on a BJD ticket. He repeated this success in 2009, winning as an MLA from Polsara assembly constituency on a BJD ticket.
Niranjan started his political journey in 1979. He was inspired by former minister Ramakrushna Patnaik to contest and won as a sarpanch from Ghodapalan in 1980. Additionally, he served as the Polsara Block Chairman from 1990 to 1993.
