Former Odisha Minister Bibhuti Mardaraj Passes Away at 70

Bhubaneswar, August 7 (PTI) Former Odisha minister and ex-deputy speaker of the state assembly, Bibhuti Bhusan Singh Mardaraj, passed away, his family has confirmed.

He was 70 years old and leaves behind his wife, son, and daughter.

A member of the erstwhile royal family of Khandapada, Mardaraj took his last breath while being treated at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. His passing occurred around 12:30 am on Thursday.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his sorrow over Mardaraj's death.

"I am deeply saddened to learn about the demise of former minister and former deputy speaker of the Odisha Assembly, Shri Bibhuti Bhusan Singh Mardaraj. I pray to Lord Shri Jagannath for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extend my condolences to the family members. Om Shanti," Majhi conveyed in a post on X.

Mardaraj was elected three times to the Odisha Assembly from the Khandapada constituency in 1980, 1985, and 1995. He held the position of deputy speaker of the Odisha Assembly from 1996 to 2000.

His son, Siddharth Sekhar Singh, also made his mark in politics, being elected to the state assembly in 2009 as a BJD representative.

Individuals from various sectors came to the hospital to pay their final respects to the departed soul.

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