Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Assembly Speaker and ex-minister Maheswar Mohanty passed away at a private hospital here, today. He was 67.

Mohanty was undergoing treatment at the healthcare facility for the last one week after his condition deteriorated on November 1. He breathed his last at the hospital at 3.25 am, hospital sources said.

"It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of former speaker Shri Mr. Maheswar Mohanty, who was admitted to our care at Hospitals on November 1, 2023, following a severe Brain Stroke. Despite the relentless dedication of our multidisciplinary team of doctors, Shri Mohanty's health deteriorated, and he peacefully departed from us at 3:25 AM on November 7, 2023," the hospital said in a statement.

A veteran BJD leader, Mohanty was elected to the Legislative Assembly from Puri constituency, five times. He had successfully contested the assembly elections as Janata Dal candidate in 1995 and as BJD nominee in 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2014.

He also served as Cabinet Minister in the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government as he held portfolios like Panchayati Raj, Revenue, Law and Tourism departments between 2011 and 2019.

Born on 26 February 1956, Mohanty was the Speaker of the Assembly from 2004 to 2008.

Political leaders cutting across party lines condoled the demise of Mohanty.

Expressing grief over the death of Mohanty, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described him as a popular leader with organizational skills. Mohanty played important role in the development of Puri as MLA and Minister, the CM said.