Bhubaneswar: Veteran Congress leader and former chief minister Hemananda Biswal passed away in the city on Friday. He was 84.
According to the family sources, Biswal was was admitted to a private hospital on February 8 for treatment of multi-organ dysfunction. He was diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease, Ďisseminated Tuberculosis, Bilateral Pneumonia, Pancytopenia and Sepsis. He was undergoing treatment under the supervision of senior consultant, Critical Care.
His condition gradually deteriorated to have septic shock with multi-organ failure including kidney and liver failure. Despite all efforts, he passed away at 7.51 pm on Friday.
Biswal held the post of chief minister twice, once from 1989 to 1990 and again from 1999 to 2000. He was elected to state Assembly for six times.
He was elected as an MLA for the first time in 1974. Before contesting for MLA post, he was the chairman of Kirmira panchayat samiti in Jharsuguda district.
Biswal was also elected to Lok Sabha from Sundargarh parliamentary constituency in 2009.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed his condolence to the family of Biswal. In his message, the chief minister said Biswal was a prominent and popular leader of the state. His contribution to the development of nackward sections of the society will always be remembered, he added.
OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik, state BJP president Samir Mohanty, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP vice-president Baijayant Panda have also expressed their condolence on demise of Biswal.
