BJD MP Kalpataru Das passes away

Sitting Rajya Sabha Member from Odisha and vice president of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Kalpataru Das passed away in New Delhi on Saturday after a prolonged battle with cancer.

He (65) is survived by his wife and three sons. "Das was admitted to AIIMS last Monday and breathed his last at 3.45 pm," his close associates said. Das, who served as a cabinet minister in the Naveen Patnaik government between 2012-14, was elected to Rajya Sabha last year.

In a political career spanning close to 40 years, Das held several important positions in various bodies and organisations and was elected four times to the Odisha Legislative Assembly. He had also worked as the state Panchayati Raj and Parliamentary Affairs minister.

Das was born on August 15, 1950 at Bhotaka in Jajpur district of Odisha. Hailed as an active social worker, Das saw a steady rise in his political career, having served as the general secretary of the state Janata Dal from 1990 to 1995. He joined Biju Janata Dal in December 18, 1997 and became the party's vice president in 2012.