Odisha’s First State Election Commissioner Debendra Kumar Mishra Passes Away

Bhubaneswar: The first state election commissioner of Odisha, Debendra Kumar Mishra, passed away, here, on Saturday. He was 85.

Mishra had developed complicacies in health condition after recovering from COVID and was admitted to a private hospital in the city. But he succumbed while undergoing treatment in the hospital, his family sources said.

The body of the retired IAS officer will be kept in his residence at Saheed Nagar for the people to pay their last respects. His last rites will be performed at the cremation ground in Satya Nagar on Sunday.

A condolence meeting was organised on the premises of the SEC, here in memory of Mishra. The officials of the Commission paid floral tributes to the departed soul and observed two-minute silence in his honour.

While holding the post of SEC from 1994 to 1999, Mishra was responsible for formulating the laws to conduct elections in the state and strengthening the role of the Commission.

He had served in several responsible government posts in different places of the state during his tenure. He was also associated with many social and cultural organisations.

Mishra is survived by wife Suhasini Mishra and two sons, Asit Mishra and Brajendra Mishra.