Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader and former MLA Ananta Das passed away on Sunday at around 3 AM due to a prolonged illness related to old age at his residence in Bhubaneswar. He was 85.
His son Biswajit Das informed the media about Das’ demise.
Das had been elected to the State Assembly from the Bhograi constituency four times from 2004 to 2019. He had also served as the Higher Education and Industries Minister in the Naveen Patnaik government.
Born on August 28, 1940, in Kurutia village, Bhograi block, Das secured a government job after completing his MA LLB. He performed his duties efficiently as an administrative officer throughout his working life. After retiring, Das formed the Bhograi Vikas Parishad and worked towards Bhograi’s development.
He began his political career with the NCP but contested and won the 2004 elections on a BJD ticket as the MLA of Bhograi. Between 2004 and 2019, he won four consecutive elections as the MLA from Bhograi. Additionally, Das successfully held various key portfolios, including Industries Minister, Higher Education Minister, Chief Whip of the government, and Chairman of the Balasore District Planning Board of the Odisha Government.
