Jharsuguda: Former MLA Makardhwaj Pradhan passed away at the age of 102 at his residence in Jharsuguda.
In the first general election of Odisha in 1952, he became an MLA from the then Mura-Ambhabhona constituency and was a member of the house till 1957. Makardhwaj was born on January 14, 1924 and died today at his residence in Baghamunda in Jharsuguda district.
Pradhan’s journey into politics began during his college days at Ravenshaw College in Cuttack. It was there that he became influenced by the ideology of the Socialist party, which emphasizes democratic socialism. This inspiration led him to contest the Vidhan Sabha election in 1952 as an Independent from the then Ambabhona-Mura constituency.
Pradhan went on to be elected as the MLA of the constituency during Chief Minister Nabakrushna Choudhury’s tenure.