BJD Leader Kalpataru Das’ Last Rites performed at Bhotaka, Jajpur

Thousands of people gathered at Bhotaka village in Jajpur district of Odisha, to bid a tearful adieu to senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kalpataru Das, who breathed his last at the AIIMS, New Delhi yesterday at the age of 67. His son Pranab Balabantaray lit the funeral pyre.

The mortal remains of Kalpataru Das, were flown to Bhubaneswar this morning. His body was brought to his residence in a procession where CM Naveen Patnaik and many others paid him their last respect. Later, he was taken to the BJD office where all political leaders, cadres and other people got a chance to pay their homage to the departed soul. He was also given a guard of honour at the party office. The mortal remains were also taken to the Odisha Assembly.

The moratal remains of Kalpataru was taken to his village Bhotaka in Jajpur district. A large number of people thronged to pay him their last respect. His last rites were performed with state honours.

Born on February 7, 1948, Kalpataru Das represented the Dharmasala assembly segment four times. He held the Panchayati Raj and Parliamentary Affairs portfolio Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet from 2012 to 2014. He was a Member of Ethics Committee in Rajya Sabha.

He entered the Cabinet only after the exit of Pyari Mohan Mohapatra. He was later elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJD ticket in 2014. He was credited with leading the team that ensured 117 seats for the BJD in 2014 assembly polls.