Bhabanipatana: Former Odisha minister and Kalahandi MP Rasa Bihari Behera died at his residence in Bhabanipatana Wednesday following prolonged age-related ailments, family sources said.
He was 88. Born April 12, 1938, Behera began his political career with the Indian National Congress and was elected to the Assembly from Koksara constituency in Kalahandi district in 1977 and 1985.
He also represented Kalahandi in the Lok Sabha after being elected as an MP in 1980.
Behera served as the chairman of Bhabanipatana Municipality from 1976 to 1977.
He held the portfolios of agriculture and Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development in the Congress government in the state.
Apart from politics, he was actively associated with cultural and literary organisations.
He was the founding president of Mahavir Sanskritik Anusthan and Kalahandi Lekhak Kala Parishad, which he headed for several years.
He also served as the general secretary of the Kalahandi District Athletics Association.
Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo condoled Behera’s death in a post on X.
“Hearing the news of the demise of Rasa Bihari Behera, the former MP from Kalahandi and former MLA from Koksara, I am deeply saddened and heartbroken. May Lord Shri Jagannath grant eternal peace to the departed soul and bestow strength and courage upon the bereaved family to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti,” he said.
Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik also expressed grief over Behera’s demise.
“His dedicated service and contributions to the welfare and development of the people as a public representative over many years will always remain memorable. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members during this hour of grief and pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul,” Patnaik said.
PTI