Former Rajya Sabha MP and president of Odisha Janamorcha party Pyari Mohan Mohapatra died in Mumbai after a prolonged illness on Sunday at the age of 77. Mohapatra passed away at 9.48 pm at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai.
He was also called ‘Chanakya of Odisha politics.’
Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik mourned the demise of the former MP. Notably, he was also regarded as Patnaik’s chief strategist and guide.
Mohapatra was the former IAS officer of 1963 batch. He played a significant role in deciding the nature and outlines of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) after the regional party was created in 1997.
The veteran leader was also the principal secretary to the chief minister when Biju Patnaik occupied the top position.
