Naveen’s ex-advisor, RS member Pyarimohan Mohapatra passes away

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Bhubaneswar, March 19: Former BJD Rajya Sabha member and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s erstwhile advisor Pyarmiohan Mohapatra passed away in Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital late on Sunday evening.

He was 77.

Mohapatra was suffering from lungs infection for quite some time,

The bureaucrat-turned politician was on ventilator support since Friday.

After his expulsion from the BJD following an alleged coup attempt, Mohapatra had formed Odisha Jana Morcha.

Mr Mohapatra had started his career as an IAS officer and was also the principal secretary to former Odisha CM Biju Patnaik.

The bureaucrat turned political was the most powerful among other leaders and was calling shots in the Naveen Patnaik led BJD government from 2000 to 2012.

According to Sarada Prasad Swain, secretary of Odisha Jana Morcha, – Mohapatra breathed at around 10 pm.