Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 25: Rajya Sabha member and Biju Janata Dal vice-president Kalpataru Das (67) died Saturday at AIIMS in Delhi, his family said.
Das was ill for quite some time, and after his health deteriorated, he was rushed to Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Cancer Hospital at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Monday, and put on life support system, his family sources said.
Kalpataru is survived by his wife and three sons, all of whom were present with him when he breathed his last. His elder son Pranab Balabantaray is a BJD legislator.
According to sources, Kalpataru was undergoing treatment in Delhi and had earlier travelled to the US for consultation. His body would be flown to Bhubaneswar Sunday and the last rites would be performed in his village.
Born in Bhotaka village in Jajpur district, Das represented the Dharmasala Assembly segment four times. He was the panchayati raj and parliamentary affairs minister in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet from 2012 to 2014. Das was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJD ticket in 2014.
Chief Minister Patnaik, Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra, and state BJP president KV Singhdeo among others condoled the death.
Describing Das as an ‘‘efficient parliamentarian and an able organiser,’’ Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “He played an important role in strengthening the Biju Janata Dal.”
