Former Odisha MLA Kangali Charan Panda passes away

Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha MLA Kangali Charan Panda passed away following cardiac arrest at his residence in Nayapalli area here today.

Panda suddenly collapsed and lost his consciousness after having tea in the morning, family source said.

The Congress leader was the key associate of late Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik. He was elected to the State Legislative Assembly as an Independent member from Dharmasala Assembly Constituency in Jajpur district in the year 1980. He won the assembly elections for second consecutive term retaining the seat on Congress ticket in 1985.