Hemananda Biswal, the former Chief Minister of Odisha and a notable tribal Congress leader, died Friday at the age of 82 while receiving treatment for pneumonia, according to family members. Sunita Biswal, the former chief minister’s daughter, claimed her father died in a private hospital here. Sabita, Sanjukya, Manjiulata, Sunita, and Anita were his five daughters, and he died of pneumonia.
Biswal was a six-time MLA from Jharsuguda district and twice served as the state’s chief minister. He also represented Sundergarh Constituency in the Lok Sabha. He was elected chief minister twice, the first time from December 7, 1989 to March 5, 1990, and the second time from December 6, 1999 to March 5, 2000. He was Odisha’s first tribal chief minister.He was initially elected to the Assembly in 1974, and he served until 1977. In 1980, he was elected to the Laikera Assembly section as an MLA, a position he held until 2004. After a brief tenure as a school teacher in the Jharsugudda area, Biswal began his career in panchayat politics.
After the news broke, the outpouring of condolences began. Congress has lost a powerful fighter and a guardian of tribal interests, according to OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik. Dharmendra Pradhan, a Union Minister and a top BJP leader, expressed his sadness over Biswal’s death. Odisha has lost a seasoned and effective politician. Biswal’s death, according to BJP MP Suresh Pujari, was a big loss for the state and, in particular, western Odisha.
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