Former Odisha Minister Kamala Das Passes Away At 79

Cuttack: Former minister and three-time MLA Kamala Das passed away at a private hospital here late on Thursday. She was 79.

According to family sources, Das was admitted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar two weeks ago when she was diagnosed with lung infection. She was then shifted to a hospital in Cuttack about 12 days ago and had been on ventilator for the last three days. She breathed her last around 12.30 am.

Das was elected as an MLA for the first time in 1990 from Bhograi on a Janata Dal ticket. She repeated the feat in 1995 and again in 2000 as BJD candidate.

She was a Minister of State for Education & Youth Services (Primary & Adult Education) in 1991 and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare (independent charge of Family Welfare) in 1993 in the Biju Patnaik-led government. She also served as Woman and Child Development (WCD) Minister in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik cabinet. She, however was sacked on July 9, 2001, after coming “under the shadow” of corruption.

She later left the regional party and joined the Congress only to return to the Conch fold in 2014.

Her mortal remains will be taken to her hometown Bhograi where the last rites will be performed, the sources added.