Former Cong Minister Harihar Karan passes away

Surjit kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, Feb 4:  Senior Congress leader and a former Minister Harihar Karan passed away early on Monday.

He was 72.

Karan was admitted to Apollo Hospitals for treatement of prolonged septicemia three weeks ago. He was shifted to AMRI Hospital after the fire incident there.

“Since he was kept on ventilator, his condition had deteriorated after it was withdrawn for about five hours during his shifting,” Rajesh, the son of the departed leader told mediapersons. Harihar breathed his last the Apollo hospital at 4 am.

Born at Karadapada village in Nayagarh district on May 5, 1947, Harihar had begun his political career from his student days. He was the president of the Students’ Union of the Madhusudan Law College in College from 1968 to 1971.

A six-time MLA from Daspalla constituency in Nayagarh district, Harihar was elected for the first time in the sixth Assembly elections 1974. He was also elected from Daspalla constituency in the 7th, 8th, 9th 11th and 12th Assembly elections in 1977, 1980, 1985, 1995 and 2000 respectively.

He was the Health and Family Welfare minister in the JB Patnaik ministry in 1980. Besides, he was the chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) in 2013.

The mortal remains of the Congress leader were brought to his residence at Nayapally where several party leaders and think-tanks thronged to have a last glimpse of the departed soul.

The final rites will be held in Puri Swarga Dwara.