Senior BJD Leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kalpataru Das dies at 67

Senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kalpataru Das, who was also a member of the Ethics Committee in Rajya Sabha, died of cancer. He died this afternoon at the AIIMS, New Delhi. He was admitted to the AIIMS on Monday. Born on February 7, 1948, Kalpataru Das is survived by his wife and three sons.

Kalpataru Das, who played a key role in BJD’s poll strategy in 2014, had helped the party to win 117 seats in Odisha Assembly. He held the Panchayati Raj and Parliamentary Affairs portfolio in 2013. He was also the BJD Vice President. He represented Dharmasala constituency four times in the past. His son Pranab Balabantray currently represents this seat.

Kalpataru, a seasoned politician, was credited with foiling the 2002 coup attempted by Pyari Mohan Mohapatra with the support of Dr. Damodar Rout. Despite the controversies, he enjoyed the trust and confidence of BJD supremo and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.

Governor Dr. SC Jamir, CM Naveen Patnaik, former PCC President Niranjan Patnaik and other politicians and intellectuals have condoled his sudden demise.