Bhubaneswar: Senior Congress leader and former Odisha MLA Devendra Sharma passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Friday. He was 66.
Sharma, who was undergoing treatment at the private hospital for quite some time, breathed his last on Friday, family sources said.
He was elected to the Assembly from Aul constituency in Kendrapada district in 2014. He had defeated Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former minister Pratap Keshari Deb.
The veteran leader had also served as the president of Kendrapada district Congress committee.
However, Sharma was by BJD’s Deb from the same constituency in 2019 Assembly polls. He did not contest the 2024 Assembly polls due to health issues. His daughter Debasmita, a doctor, had unsuccessfully contested last year’s Assembly polls from Aul segment.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed profound grief over Sharma’s demise and said the departed leader will be remembered for the work done for his development and welfare measures as a people’s representative.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das also expressed grief and said Sharma’s demise has created a void in the state’s political sphere.
