Bhubaneswar: Former Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly, ex-minister and veteran BJD leader Maheswar Mohanty passed away at a private hospital here in the early hours of Tuesday. He was 67. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
Maheswar, a former MLA of Puri, suffered a brain stroke and was admitted at a hospital on November 1. His condition was critical and was being treated at the ICU of the hospital. He breathed his last at 3.25 am, hospital sources said.
A five-time legislator, Maheswar was minister in the Naveen Patnaik government from 2011 to 2014 and also from 2017 to 2018 and held portfolios such as law, revenue, panchayat raj and planning and coordination. He was Speaker from May 2004 to March 2008.
The BJD leader, who was elected to Odisha assembly from Puri constituency for five consecutive terms from 1995, lost to BJP’s Jayant Sarangi in 2019 by a slender margin of 4008 votes. Even after defeat, he continued to play an active role in party”s organisational matters in Puri district.
Mohanty dodged several controversies in the past, including allegation of sexually harassing a lady assistant marshal of the Assemble during his tenure as the Speaker in 2008. He had also survived a deadly attack after being fired at by miscreants on February 21, 2014 near Amala club in Puri when he was the Revenue Minister.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Sarat Patnaik, BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda, among others, mourned his death.
Expressing grief over demise, the CM described him as a popular leader with organisational skills. “Mohanty played important role in the development of Puri as MLA and Minister,” he added.
Chhattisgarh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan termed his demise an irreparable loss to Odisha politics.
Mortal Remains taken to Assembly, Sankha Bhawan
The mortal remains of Mohanty were taken to the Assembly building and party headquarters Sankha Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and a host of dignitaries paid their last respect to the late leader. Naveen paid homage and offered floral tributes to Maheswar as his body arrived at Sankha Bhavan, the headquarters of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The CM, who has deeply mourned the demise of the BJD stalwart, placed a wreath on his body.
A guard of honour was accorded to the late leader when his body reached the Assembly complex to enable people to have a last glimpse of Maheswar. A large number of dignitaries, including Ministers, BJD leaders and legislators, visited Sankha Bhawan as well as the state Assembly to pay their last respects to the late leader.
Mortal Remains Consigned to Flames
The mortal remains of Mohanty were consigned to flames at Swargadwar in Puri on Tuesday evening. The cremation was held in the presence of a host of dignitaries, family members, relatives a scores of his admirers. His son Sunil Mohanty lit the pyre.