Bhubaneswar: The sad demise of Odisha’s veteran political leader Bed Prakash Agarwalla has not only sent a shock wave among the people of Kendrapada parliamentary constituency, but also has its ripples felt over here in the State’s capital city as political leaders cutting across party lines deeply condoled the death.
Senior politician and former Union Minister Srikant Jena mourned, “My personal relationship with him was as a family friend. He was ill but we never expected that he would pass away so suddenly. His sad demise is not only a great loss for Kendrapada, but also for Odisha. Since the beginning of his political career, he was very much associated with Biju Babu. A gentleman is no more. I pray God for the bereft family and may his soul rest in peace.”
In his reactions, senior BJP leader and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said, “He was really a ‘sachcha’ (true) public representative. He began his political career from municipality and he had been the Finance Minister in the State. He was in our party. Very often we used to come to this residence here and had food served by her wife. I have then toured with him a lot.”
“Odisha lost an able politician, a true people’s representative. I pray God personally as well as on behalf of our party to bless the bereft family with the strength to bear the irreparable loss. Pray before Lord Jagannath so that his soul rest in peace and attain salvation,” condoled the senior BJP leader.
Senior BJD leader and Odisha’s former Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei condoled, “Bed Prakash Agrawalla was my bosom friend. It is very saddening and shocking for me. Pray God to bless his bereft family the strength to bear the great loss.”
“We have worked together as MLAs and Minister most of the time. He was very gentle and never assumed any airs. He had no enemies. He was ‘Ajatsatru’. Vedu Bhai was an example of behaving in a disciplined manner in the Assembly. It was expected that he would have been elected once again and became a minister this time. But it’s all destiny. Nobody can check it. He had been an MLA for six times representing Utkal Congress, Janata Dal, Biju Janata Dal, etc. Today I lost a very close friend of mine. It’s a loss to the BJD. His vacant place will remain so in BJD,” mourned his political colleague.
Senior BJD leader and incumbent Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patsani condoled, “I never noticed him disappointed amid the domestic and political life. Till his last breath he fought for the cause of the people. When he had been the Finance Minister, he had worked for the people of Odisha. He was a unique leader of Kendrapada.”
“We fondly address him Bedu Bhai. Never shall we meet again a great politician like him,” Patsani remarked.