The mortal remains of former Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dr. Debendra Pradhan arrived in Bhubaneswar from Delhi on Monday afternoon via a special flight.
A solemn atmosphere enveloped the Biju Patnaik International Airport as dignitaries, including Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Speaker Surama Padhy, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, and BJP State President Manmohan Samal, gathered to pay their last respects.
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Dr. Pradhan’s son, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, was also present alongside several BJP and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders, including Mahesh Sahu, Braja Kishore Pradhan, Romancha Ranjan Biswal, Manmath Rautray, Bhrugu Baxipatra, and former Congress MLA Suresh Kumar Routray.
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At the airport, Dr. Pradhan was accorded a Guard of Honour under the supervision of Bhubaneswar DCP Jagamohan Meena. Following the tribute, his body was taken in a special procession from the airport to the BJP State Office, where Chief Minister Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Minister Suresh Pujari, former State President Sameer Mohanty, and other senior leaders offered floral tributes and draped the body with the party flag.
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The procession saw the participation of numerous BJP workers, as well as representatives from Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and other organizations.
After nearly one-and-a-half hours at the BJP State Office, the mortal remains were taken to Dr. Pradhan’s residence in Chandrasekharpur.
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In a heartrending farewell, Leader of Opposition and BJD President Naveen Patnaik, MLAs Ananta Narayan Jena and Bibhuti Balabantray, BMC Mayor Sulochana Das, and senior BJD leaders Debi Mishra, Pranab Prakash Das, and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak visited the residence to offer their condolences. Hundreds of supporters also paid their last respects late into the evening.
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Dr. Debendra Pradhan’s last rites are scheduled to be performed today, Tuesday, at Swargadwar in Puri, marking the end of an era for the veteran politician whose contributions to public life will be long remembered.
