Bhubaneswar, Oct. 4: Former Orissa chief minister and union health minister in the V.P. Singh Cabinet, Nilamani Routray died today at the cardiothoracic wing of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Routray, 84, whose political career spanned nearly half a century, was admitted to the SCB Medical College Hospital on August 16.

His condition deteriorated on Sunday. He had developed multiple organ failure including the heart, lungs and kidney. He died at 7.25 am today following cardio-vascular failure. Routray is survived by his son Bijoyshree Routray, the state?s health and family welfare minister. His son, daughter-in-law, grandsons and other family members were present at his deathbed.

Routray had an illustrious career in politics since the pre-Independence struggle.

Born in Mukundapur village in Bhadrak on May 24, 1920, he plunged into the Independence struggle in 1940s and went to prison several times.

He was elected six times to the Orissa Legislative Assembly and assumed the office of chief minister in 1977 when the Janata Party came to power. Routray was a 12-time member of the state Cabinet and two-time deputy chief minister. He also held the post of Leader of the Opposition.

In 1989, he got elected to the Lok Sabha from Puri constituency and held portfolios of Union health and forest ministries in the V.P. Singh government.