Odisha: Bishnu Charan Sethi, deputy leader of opposition, dies at 61

BHUBANESWAR: BJP MLA and deputy leader of opposition in Odisha assembly, Bishnu Charan Sethi passed away on Monday due to heart failure at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, hospital authorities said. He was 61.
Sethi, who had diabetes and hypertension, was suffering from chronic kidney disease and was undergoing dialysis. He was admitted to AIIMS on August 16. Recently, he had developed lung infection, had suffered brain stroke and was in the ICU for the past few days.
"He passed away due to sudden cardiac failure, this morning at 7.45am," AIIMS medical superintendent Sachi Mohanty said.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, governor Ganeshi Lal, chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and state BJP president Samir Mohanty were among many who expressed grief at Sethi's untimely demise.
"Saddened by the demise of Shri Bishnu Charan Sethi, a prominent public figure in Odisha. A prolific writer, Shri Sethi was an eminent legislator. His demise leaves a void which is difficult to fill. My heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers and followers," President Murmu tweeted.
Modi, in a message, wrote that Sethi made an outstanding contribution to Odisha's progress. "He distinguished himself as a hardworking legislator and contributed greatly to social empowerment. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," Modi wrote.
Sethi leaves behind his wife Urmilarani, a son and daughter. The two-time MLA had started his career as a journalist in a weekly magazine. The JNU alumnus had debuted in electoral politics in 1996 when he had unsuccessfully contested from Bhadrak Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket. He was elected as MLA for the first time in 2000 from Chandbali when BJP-BJD fought the election as coalition partners.