BHUBANESWAR/BARGARH:Former minister and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Anand Acharya passed away at a private hospital here on Friday. He was 77.
Elder brother of former minister and senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya, Anand was elected to the Assembly thrice from Bargarh constituency in 1998, 2000 and 2004. He was a minister in the Naveen Patnaik Cabinet from 2000 to 2004.
Born on February 2, 1938 at Bargarh, Anand was the son of Late Padmashree Krutartha Acharya. His son Debesh Acharya was elected from Bargarh Assembly constituency in 2014. He was the president of Sambalpur District Central Cooperative Bank from 1994 to 1996, president of Sambalpuri Bastralaya Handloom Cooperative Societies from 1979 to 1981 and president of Odisha Weavers Cooperative Spinning Mills from 1994 to 1996.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Energy Pranab Prakash Das, Minister of State for Law Arun Sahu, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Minister of State for Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Dasburma, secretary general of Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) Bijay Nayak, several senior BJD leaders, MLAs and former MLAs condoled his death.
Former president of State unit of BJP Suresh Pujari and Chairman of Sambalpur Development Authority (SDA) Bijay Mohanty recalled Anand’s commitment to the welfare of the people. His mortal remains will be taken to Bargarh where the last rites will take place.