Veteran BJP leader and ex Union Minister Debendra Pradhan died on Monday at the age of 84. Officials confirmed that he passed away in New Delhi. He was survived by his son, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and other family members.
Debendra Pradhan: Stalwart in Odisha and National Politics
Debendra Pradhan, a popular Odisha politician, was the state BJP president and was instrumental in consolidating the party’s hold. He started his political life in 1980 as BJP’s president of Talcher Mandal. He also represented the erstwhile Deogarh Lok Sabha constituency twice, i.e., in 1998 and 1999.
In the Atal Bihari Vajpayee administration, he was a minister of state in the Union Cabinet and held the office of Minister of State for Surface Transport (1998-1999) and then dual portfolios of Surface Transport and Agriculture (1999-2001).
Leaders Remember His Contributions
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi mourned Pradhan’s death as “a popular public leader and an able parliamentarian.”
ପୂର୍ବତନ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଦେବେନ୍ଦ୍ର ପ୍ରଧାନଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ସ୍ୱର୍ଗତ ପ୍ରଧାନ ଜଣେ ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ ଜନନେତା ଓ ଦକ୍ଷ ପାର୍ଲାମେଣ୍ଟାରିଆନ୍ ଥିଲେ। ରାଜ୍ୟ ବିଜେପିର ସଭାପତି ଭାବେ ଦୃଢ଼ ନେତୃତ୍ୱ ନେଇ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଭାରତୀୟ ଜନତା ପାର୍ଟିର ଅଭ୍ୟୁଦୟରେ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗତ ପ୍ରଧାନ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଅବଦାନ ରଖିଥିଲେ। ସେବା…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) March 17, 2025
He had worked efficiently as the Union Minister of Transport and Agriculture between 1999 and 2001. As a representative of the public and MP, he had gained the affection of the commoners by performing lots of welfare works,” Majhi added.
He devoted his whole life for the growth of the state with a spirit of service and resolve. The nation and the state have lost a distinguished public servant.” Majhi also met Dharmendra Pradhan to offer his condolence.
Odisha Assembly Opposition Leader Naveen Patnaik recalled Pradhan for his “unparalleled organisational skills and amiable personality.” He further said that Odisha had lost “an influential political figure and popular politician” with his death.
ପୂର୍ବତନ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ତଥା ରାଜ୍ୟ ବିଜେପିର ପୂର୍ବତନ ସଭାପତି ଦେବେନ୍ଦ୍ର ପ୍ରଧାନଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଅତୁଳନୀୟ ସାଙ୍ଗଠନିକ ଦକ୍ଷତା ଓ ଅମାୟିକ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିତ୍ୱ ପାଇଁ ସେ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇ ରହିବେ। ତାଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗରେ ରାଜ୍ୟ ଜଣେ ପ୍ରଭାବଶାଳୀ ରାଜନୈତିକ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିତ୍ୱ ତଥା ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ ରାଜନେତାଙ୍କୁ ହରାଇଲା। ଏପରି ଦୁଃଖଦ…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 17, 2025
Tributes Across Party Lines
State BJP president Manmohan Samal and leaders from other political parties also mourned Pradhan’s death. His inputs towards Odisha’s politics and national administration have left an enduring imprint.
The veteran leader’s death has been universally regretted throughout Odisha, and people from all walks of life have recognized his incessant devotion to public service and state development during his entire lifetime. His leadership skills, administrative acumen, and people’s dedication will be remembered for years to come.
