BJD leader Bed Prakash Agarwalla passes away

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s veteran leader and BJD’s Patkura assembly constituency candidate Bed Prakash Agarwalla died on Saturday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. According to reports, Agarwalla was unwell for the past few days and was admitted to a private hospital in the city. He was elected twice to the Odisha Legislative Assembly four times and twice from Patkura in 2009 and 2014.He was also former finance minister of Odisha.

Agarwalla had joined politics at 20 years of age, post completing his graduation in Economics from the then Ravenshaw College. He started his political career as councillor from Kendrapara Municipality and then went on to become the Chairman of the Kendrapara Municipality at an age of 33 years. A close confidante of Biju Patnaik, Agarwalla had later joined the BJP in late 1990s and was chosen to represent Odisha in the BJP’s all important body – the National Executive. “Bed Prakash Agarwalla’s death is a great loss for all of us. His organisational ability and dedication for the welfare of general public will be remembered forever. He was also a close associate of Biju Babu.

I convey my deep sympathy to the bereaved family,” tweeted Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik. Condoling the death of Agarwalla, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted, “Saddened by the news of senior leader Bed Prakash Agarwalla’s demise. I pray for the departed soul.”