Eighty seven-year-old former Bihar Minister and veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rudra Pratap Sarangi passed away after prolonged illness in his hometown Chakradharpur of West Singhbhum district on Sunday.
Sarangi served in the Mahamaya Sinha Government of unified Bihar as Minister of State for Irrigation in 1967 following his win from Saraikela Assembly seat in 1967 as Jansangh candidate, breathed his last at his residence in Purani Basti area of the town in the morning. He is survived by his wife, two sons, two granddaughters and a grandson.
The senior leader was put to rest as per Hindu rituals with State honour. Former Deputy CM Raghubar Das, former State BJP president Dineshanad Goswami, State BJP spokesperson Amarpreet Singh Kale, MlA Gurucharan Nayak, Menaka Sardar, laxman Gilua, Badkuwar Gagrai and several other party leaders and dignitaries were present on the occasion.
"He was a guiding force in the party and played an important role in strengthening the party in Bihar and Jharkhand. The party has received irrevocable loss and we will miss his guidance always," said Das.
Sarangi won Chakradharpur Assembly seat in 1962 as an independent candidate but joined Jansangh the same year on the call of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was also elected member of loksabha on the ticket of the then Janata party from Jamshedpur seat in 1977 and 1980.