Former Odisha Minister and writer Ras Bihari Behera dies at 88
The veteran leader passed away at his residence in Bhawanipatna following a prolonged illness.
Veteran political leader and former Odisha Minister Ras Bihari Behera passed away at his Bhawanipatna residence following a prolonged illness, according to reports by Pragativadi and Odisha Bytes.
Behera, who was 88, had been suffering from age-related ailments for a long time.
The former minister was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Koksara assembly constituency in 1977 and 1985. He also served as the Minister for Agriculture, Cooperation, and Tribal Development in the state cabinet.
Behera entered national politics in 1980 when he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency. He was an active member of the Indian National Congress.
A noted novelist and litterateur, Behera wrote works such as Bijayee and Ananya Srushti Canada. His literary contributions earned him the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award, Kalahandi Baraputra Sanmana, and Mahavir Sanmana.
Political leaders and social organisations expressed grief over his death. Tributes were offered by PCC President Bhakta Charan Das, former ministers Bhupinder Singh and Jagannath Patnaik, MP Sujit Kumar, and various local leaders.