The mortal remains of former Rajya Sabha MP and founder of Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) Pyarimohan Mohapatra were consigned to flames at the Satya Nagar crematorium on Monday amid tearful adieus by hundreds of his well-wishers and supporters. The funeral pyre was lit by his son Sambit Mohapatra.
Despite being controversial following his expulsion from the BJD for antiparty activities and CBI grilling him and raiding his house over the Seashore links, Mohapatra, who till last moments of his life was struggling hard to reassert his clean image, got words of praise for his personal virtues and skill as a former bureaucrat and leader from both his supporters and detractors.
The 77-year-old leader passed away in the Mumbai-based PD Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre on Sunday around 9.40 pm where he was undergoing treatment for the past several months. In the last few days his condition had become critical as he suffered brain infection and was on ventilator support. Mohapatra had undergone two surgeries after he was detected with a malignant tumor in his lungs. He was also administered chemotherapy for the ailment. First he was undergoing treatment at the Breach Candy Hospital and later at the Hinduja Hospital.
Around 2 pm on Monday, Mohapatra’s body reached at the Biju Patnaik International Airport from Mumbai by Air India Flight 669, his supporters made a beeline there to have a glimpse of the departed leader. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik drove to the airport and paid his last tribute. Several of his Cabinet colleagues like Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Planning and Coordination Minister Usha Devi, Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahi and law Minister Arun Sahu, besides former BJD Minister Surjya Narayan Patro and several MlAs gave their floral tributes to the erstwhile BJD strategist, who played a crucial role in the BJD organisational works and called the shots in the party till May 29, 2012 when he fell out with Chief Minister Patnaik for allegedly staging a coup. later, Mohapatra had formed the Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM).
Since Monday morning, OJM supporters from across the State were seen trickling in at his Sahid Nagar residence to join the bereaved family at this hour of crisis and pay their last respects. And, after the body reached at his residence, the crowd kept swelling.
The visitors at Mohapatra’s residence included leaders across party line, Ministers, MlAs, former MlAs and former Ministers, MPs, former MPs, Union Ministers, old acquaintances and relatives. Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MPs Baijayant Panda and Prasanna Patsani, BJP leaders Harischandra Buxipatra, Sameer Mohanty, Bhrugu Buxipatra, former BJD MP Baishnab Parida, OPCC president Prasad Harichandan, among others were at Mohapatra’s residence to pay their last respects.
Governor Dr SC Jamir and Chief Minister Patnaik condoled the death of Mohapatra. Patnaik describing him as an able administrator and astute politician.
Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram also expressed grief over the demise of Mohapatra. Pradhan said Mohapatra’s death created a void in Odisha politics which cannot be filled up. Mohapatra had influenced the contemporary Odisha politics and was an able administrator, he said.
Among others, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, BJP State president Basanta Panda, leader of the BJP legislature Party KV Singh Deo, MP Pinaki Misra and INTUC State president Rama Chandra Khuntia also condoled Mohapatra’s demise.