Senior BJD leader and former Odisha Minister Ananta Das passed away in the early hours of Sunday at his residence in Bhubaneswar. He was 85.
Ananta Das, a prominent figure in Odisha politics, had been suffering from age-related ailments for a long time. He was a four-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Bhograi constituency in Balasore district, having been elected to the Assembly in 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019 as a BJD candidate.
During his illustrious political career, Das held several important positions, including Minister for Industries, Higher Education, Chief Whip of the government, and Chairman of the Balasore District Planning Board.
President Droupadi Murmu, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other dignitaries have expressed their condolences.
Smt. Murmu expressed her deep grief and posted in her X, “I am deeply saddened by the passing away of former Odisha Minister Shri Ananta Das. He was a dedicated public servant. He did a lot for the welfare of the people of Odisha. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends and well-wishers of the late Ananta Das”.
ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପୂର୍ବତନ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ଅନନ୍ତ ଦାସଙ୍କ ପରଲୋକରେ ମୁଁ ମର୍ମାହତ । ସେ ଜଣେ ସମର୍ପିତ ଜନସେବକ ଥିଲେ । ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ନିମନ୍ତେ ସେ ଅନେକ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିଯାଇଛନ୍ତି । ମୁଁ ସ୍ବର୍ଗତ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର, ବନ୍ଧୁପରିଜନ ଓ ଅନୁରାଗୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି ।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 9, 2025
In his X, CM Majhi expressed, “I am saddened to learn about the demise of former Minister Anant Das. As a Minister and MLA, he has made significant contributions to the development of the state and the Balasore region. With his demise, the state has lost a dedicated public servant. I pray for the eternal peace of his soul and express my condolences to the bereaved family”.
ପୂର୍ବତନ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଅନନ୍ତ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଓ ବିଧାୟକ ଭାବେ ସେ ରାଜ୍ୟର ଓ ବାଲେଶ୍ଵର ଅଞ୍ଚଳର ବିକାଶ ପାଇଁ ନିଜର ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଯୋଗଦାନ ରଖି ଯାଇଛନ୍ତି। ତାଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଯୋଗୁଁ ରାଜ୍ୟ ଜଣେ ଅମାୟିକ ଜନ ସେବକଙ୍କୁ ହରାଇଲା। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହିତ ଶୋକ ସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) March 9, 2025
BJD president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik also expressed grief over Das’s demise, praising his contributions as a people’s representative. Das is remembered for his unwavering dedication to the development of his constituency and the state.
Born on August 28, 1940, in Kurutia village of Bhograi block in Balasore district, Ananta Das dedicated his career to serving the people and advancing the progress of Odisha.