Bhubaneswar, Aug. 22: Cutting across party lines, politicians from across the state paid tributes to Congress MLA from Bijepur Subal Sahu, who passed away at a private hospital here today. He was suffering from cancer.
The 56-year-old legislator was elected from Bijepur in Bargarh district consecutively for three terms (2004, 2009 and 2014) on Congress ticket despite the strong BJD wave. Sahu had defeated the BJD stalwart and former finance minister Prasanna Acharya in the 2014 Assembly election.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who visited the hospital to pay his last respects, said: "He has proved his popularity by wining Bijepur Assembly seat thrice in a row, He has done a lot of development works for his constituency. In his death, we have lost an able legislator."
Governor S.C. Jamir condoled Sahu's untimely death and described him as an "active and able legislator". Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat and senior leaders from various parties paid floral tributes to the mortal remains on the Assembly premises. Police force fired gunshots as respect to the departed legislator. Speaker Amat described Sahu as "affable".
The three-time MLA had started his career as a lawyer. He was a noted volleyball player and had represented Odisha in the national championship in 1981-82 and 1983-84.
Sahu's death has dealt a blow to Congress party at a time it is going through a crisis. Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said Sahu's death was an irreparable loss for the party. Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan described Sahu as a "leader of the masses".
BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan took to Twitter to express his condolences on the demise of the legislator.
Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya, who Sahu defeated in the last Assembly election, said the backward Bargarh district had lost an able organiser.