Veteran Odisha Congress Leader Sriballav Panigrahi dies at 74

Veteran Congress leader from Odisha, Sriballav Panigrahi, died at the age of 74. He breathed his last at a hospital in Bengaluru. He is survived by wife Sunanda Panigrahi and two sons. His sister Dr. Raseswari Panigrahi (BJD) is the sitting MLA from Sambalpur.

Sriballav Panigrahi was born on 2nd September 1940 into a freedom fighter’s family at Bargaon in Sambalpur district. Prior to his election to the Parliament, he was also a Member of Odisha Assembly in 1971 and 1974 from Sambalpur constituency. He was a Cabinet Minister in Odisha from 1973 to 1977.

He was elected from erstwhile Deogarh Lok Sabha seat thrice in 1984, 1991 and 1996. He was the Editor of ‘Hirakhanda’, Odia Daily, published from Sambalpur.

Sriballv Panigrahi was known for his honesty, integrity and straightforwardness. He was hailed as ‘Mr. Clean’ in Odisha’s political circle. He relentlessly worked for the establishment of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) at Sambalpur and is also credited for getting the Railway Division for Sambalpur.