Bibhuti Bhusan Singh Mardaraj, former Odisha’s minister and ex-deputy speaker of the state assembly, passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, his family said.
He was 70. Mardaraj is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
Mardaraj breathed his last at around 12.30 am on Thursday. He was suffering from cardiac-related ailments over the past few days, informed a member of the former royal family of Khandapada.
As the news of Mardaraj broke, people from all walks of life visited the hospital to pay their last respects to the departed soul.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his condolences over the demise of Mardaraj.
“I am deeply saddened to learn about the demise of former minister and former deputy speaker of 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 said in an X post.
https://twitter.com/MohanMOdisha/status/1953299313435586927
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took to X to express grief over demise of the former Odisha’s minister and state assembly deputy speaker. He said, “I am deeply saddened and heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of Bibhuti Bhushan Singh Mardaraj, former Minister in the Odisha Government and former Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. His contributions to the field of politics will remain eternally memorable. I pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extend my condolences to the bereaved family. Om Shanti.”
https://twitter.com/dpradhanbjp/status/1953322990965342370
Former CM of Odisha and BJD supremo, Naveen Patnaik in a post on X wrote, “I am saddened to learn about the demise of senior Congress leader and former Deputy Speaker Bibhuti Bhushan Singh Mardaraj. His work towards the service and progress of the people will always remain memorable. I pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul and express my condolences to the bereaved family members.”
https://twitter.com/Naveen_Odisha/status/1953313767070072843
Mardaraj was a prominent political figure in Odisha during the 1980s and 1990s. Mardaraj was elected to the Odisha Assembly three times in 1980, 1985, and 1995 from Khandapada constituency.
During his overall political career, he held several key positions, including Deputy Speaker and Minister in the state government from 1996 to 2000.
His son Siddharth Sekhar Singh was also elected to the state assembly in 2009 on a BJD ticket.
