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Bhubaneswar: Veteran leader and BJD's candidate from Patkura Assembly constituency in the 2019 elections Bed Prakash Agarwalla died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
According to reports, Agarwalla was unwell for the past few days and was admitted to a private hospital in the city. He was elected twice to the Odisha Legislative Assembly four times and twice from Patkura in 2009 and 2014.He was also former finance minister of Odisha.
Agarwalla had joined politics at the young age of 20, post completing his graduation in Economics from the then Ravenshaw College. He started his political career as councillor from Kendrapara Municipality and then went on to become the Chairman of the Kendrapara Municipality at an age of 33 years. A close confidante of Biju Patnaik, Agarwalla had later joined the BJP in late 1990s and was chosen to represent Odisha in the BJP's all important body - the National Executive.
Expressing grief over Agarwalla's demise, BJP's national vice-president and Kendrapara LS candidate Baijayant Panda tweeted....
Saddened to hear of the passing of Bed Prakash Agrawal ji, former finance minister of Odisha, current MLA of Patkura in my Kendrapada (& again a BJD candidate now).
He had been ailing for long & had been hospitalised for several days.
May his soul rest in peace...
Om Shanti??? https://t.co/oo9RTbB0nn— Chowkidar Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) April 20, 2019
"Bed Prakash Agarwalla's death is a great loss for all of us. His organisational ability and dedication for the welfare of general public will be remembered forever. He was also a close associate of Biju Babu. I convey my deep sympathy to the bereaved family," tweeted Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.
Condoling the death of Agarwalla, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted, "Saddened by the news of senior leader Bed Prakash Agarwalla's demise. I pray for the departed soul."
My deepest condolences on the sad demise of Shri Bedprakash Agrawal ex-minister and true people’s representative.
— Chowkidar Jual Oram (@jualoram) April 20, 2019
Senior BJD leader Shri Bed Prakash Agarwalla's death is a great loss for all of us. His organisational ability and dedication for the welfare of general public will be remembered forever. I convey my deep sympathy to the bereaved family. pic.twitter.com/9dl2Q3Zv8Q
— Dilip Kumar Tirkey (@DilipTirkey) April 20, 2019
Saddened to know about the demise of senior BJD leader Bed Prakash Agarwalla. My deep condolences to the bereaved family. May the departed soul Rest In Peace. Om Shanti???
— Dilip ray (@DilipRayOdisha) April 20, 2019
Similarly, offering condolence to the bereaved family of Bed Prakash Agarwalla, BJP's candidate from Patkura, Bijoy Mohapatra said, "Saddened by his demise.Since this happened during elections, I would say despite being bedridden for 3 months, those who fielded him did not do justice to him."
Offering his condolence to bereaved family of Bed Prakash Agarwalla, BJP's candidate from Patkura Bijoy Mohapatra says,''Saddened by his demise.Since this happened during elections, I would say despite being bedridden for 3 months, those who fielded him didn't do justice to him." pic.twitter.com/n5a1VuuDXV
— OTV (@otvnews) April 20, 2019
Former union minister Srikant Jena said," He was unwell but we didn't expect that he will pass away all of a sudden. Not only for Kendrapara, it is a big loss for entire odisha."
BJD vice-president Prafulla Ghadei also expressed his condolence and cited the reason behind giving Agarwalla party ticket. "Despite old age, he was given ticket as party members demanded that they wanted to see Bedu babu as MLA once again," Ghadei said.