Balasore: Former Odisha minister Ananta Das passed away here in the early hours of Sunday due to age-related ailments, his family said. He was 85.
Das is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.
The former minister of higher education and industries was not keeping well for sometime and died at his government residence in Bhubaneswar around 3.40 am, his son Biswajit Das said.
President Droupadi Murmu, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other leaders condoled the demise of the four-time MLA.
“Saddened to learn about the passing of Shri Anant Das, who served as minister in the Odisha government. He worked for the people of Odisha. My condolences to his family, friends and followers,” Murmu wrote on X.
In his condolence message, Majhi said Das was a popular leader and an able administrator. “The state has lost a dedicated and affable leader,” he said.
Expressing grief over the demise of Das, BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik said he would be remembered for his work as a people’s representative over a long period.
ଦଳର ବରିଷ୍ଠ ନେତା ତଥା ପୂର୍ବତନ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଅନନ୍ତ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଜନପ୍ରତିନିଧି ଭାବେ ଦୀର୍ଘଦିନ ଧରି ଲୋକଙ୍କ ସେବାରେ ତାଙ୍କ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସର୍ବଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ରହିବ। ଏପରି ଦୁଃଖଦ ସମୟରେ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି।
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 9, 2025
“I extend my condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief and pray for the eternal peace of his soul,” Patnaik wrote on X.
BJD leader and MLA of Bhograi, Gautambudha Das, said, “Bhograi has lost its stalwart leader. His contribution towards the all-around development of the area will be remembered forever.”
ଦଳର ବରିଷ୍ଠ ସଦସ୍ୟ ଅନନ୍ତ ଦାସଙ୍କ ପାର୍ଥିବ ଶରୀରକୁ ଶେଷ ଦର୍ଶନ କରି ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଜଣାଇଲି। ଲୋକଙ୍କ ହୃଦୟରେ ସେ ସର୍ବଦା ଅମର ହୋଇ ରହିବେ। pic.twitter.com/eNtIuhYyCT
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 9, 2025
Das was elected to the Odisha assembly from the Bhograi constituency in Balasore district in 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019 from a BJD ticket.
He was also the chief whip of the BJD in the assembly.
PTI
