Senior Odisha Congress leader Lulu Mohapatra dies

Bhubaneswar: A Senior Congress leader and three-time MLA Lalatendu (Lulu) Bidyadhar Mohapatra has passed away at a hospital in Gurugram following a long battle with liver cirrhosis, family sources said on Monday.

The 52-year-old Congress leader was suffering from a prolonged illness of the liver and was undergoing treatment since last month, said Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, younger brother of Lulu.

A major road accident in 2010 had affected his liver adversely. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Lulu, who died at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Sunday night, had multiple-organ failure and suffered a stroke soon after.

The former working President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee was elected to the Legislative Assembly from Brahmagiri constituency in 1995, 2000 and 2004. 

He was a popular leader among the youth. He was a former NSUI and Youth Congress President.

Several political leaders including Rahul Gandhi expressed their condolences at the demise of the leader.

"Saddened by the untimely demise of sr Congress leader from Odisha Shri Lalatendu Mohapatra. My heartfelt condolences to his fmly & loved ones," tweeted Office of RG (Rahul Gandhi).

Odisha Governor S.C. Jamir, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Odisha B.K. Hariprasad, OPCC President Prasad Harichandan and several other leaders expressed their condolences.