Dr. Debendra Pradhan, a veteran politician and former Union Minister, breathed his last at his son's residence in Delhi at 10:30 am today. He was 84 years old. His body is expected to arrive in Bhubaneswar at 4 pm today, and his last rites will be performed at Puri Swargadwar.
A distinguished politician, Dr. Pradhan served as the Minister of State for Surface Transport and Agriculture in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1999 to 2004. He also held various key positions in the party, including serving as the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) three times.
Dr. Pradhan was born on July 16, 1941, in Nalam, Angul, Odisha. He completed his MBBS from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack in 1966. Before entering politics, he worked as an Assistant Medical Officer and later ventured into private practice.
Dr. Pradhan's entry into politics began in 1980 when he joined the BJP. He was elected as a Member of Parliament to the 12th Lok Sabha from the Deogarh Parliamentary Constituency, Odisha, in 1998. He also served as a Member of Parliament to the 13th Lok Sabha from the same constituency.
As a mark of respect, the BJP and other organizations have mourned the passing of Dr. Debendra Pradhan, remembering his contributions to the party and the nation.