04-10-2020
Senior BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy Passes Away At 65..By Ramakanta Biswas On Oct 4, 2020 - 7:23 AM PM om
Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Minister and BJD MLA from Pipili constituency, Pradeep Maharathy passed away at the age of 65 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.
The senior BJD leader had reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 on September 14 and was put on ventilator support following deterioration of his health condition Friday evening.
Condolence messages started pouring in immediately after the news of his demise surfaced.
Maharathy started his political career as a student leader in SCS College, Puri and was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Pipili Assembly constituency for the first time in 1985 on Janata Party ticket.
He was elected as a legislator seven times from Pipli out of which five times were on Biju Janata Dal (2000-2019) ticket and once each on Janata Party (1985) and Janata Dal (1990) tickets.
As a minister, he held many important portfolios like Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Supply, Agriculture and Fisheries.
On January 19, 2012, Maharathy resigned from the post of Agriculture Minister on ‘moral grounds’ after being accused of shielding the accused in the infamous Pipli gangrape case. He again resigned from the post in 2019 following criticism over his controversial remarks on the acquittal of two persons arrested in connection with Pipili gang rape...#...LIFE HISTORY...