Senior Orissa Congress leader dead

BHUBANESWAR: Former president of the Congress party's Orissa unit and former MP Chintamani Jena has died here, family sources said Thursday.

Jena, 85, was elected to the state assembly from Basta constituency thrice - 1967, 1971 and 1974 - and was twice elected to the Lok Sabha from Balasore constituency in 1980 and 1984.

He worked as deputy speaker of the state legislative assembly from 1974 to 1977 and as president of the state Congress for a brief period.

Jena, who was ill for the past few days, died at his home at Bapujinagar in state capital Bhubaneswar Wednesday night, family sources said.

Hundreds visited his house after learning about his death.

His body was taken to his native village Basta in Balasore district for cremation Thursday where thousands of his supporters and relatives paid tribute.

Jena is survived by his two sons and a daughter.