Bhubaneswar: Hours after veteran BJD leader Bed Prakash Agarwalla breathed his last in a private hospital here Saturday, senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra offered his condolences and criticised BJD for fielding him in 2019 polls despite ill health.
Speaking to reporters here, Mohapatra said, “I am deeply saddened by his demise. Despite being bedridden for 3 months, he was fielded for general elections. I would like to say that those who fielded him didn’t do justice to him”.
Agarwalla and Mohapatra were supposed to faceoff in Patkura Assembly constituency that comes under Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat. It was scheduled to go to polls on April 29 in fourth phase. However, with his demise polls are likely to be delayed here.
No official notification from the Election Commission on this context, however, has been intimated at the time of filing this report.
It may be mentioned here that Agarwalla passed away this morning following a prolonged illness. He was 82.
Family sources said the body will be brought to his official residence here from the Hospital and later taken to Kendrapara and then Puri for final rites.