By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 20, 2019: Sitting Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA and candidate in the Patkura Assembly constituency Bed Prakash Agarwalla on Saturday died at a private hospital here.

Mr. Agarwalla (82) is survived by wife, two daughters and a son. . He had been undergoing medical treatment for the past few days.

Patkura is one of the seven Assembly segments under the Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat from where former BJD MP Baijayant Panda is seeking re-election as the BJP nominee.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condoled the death of Agarwalla, who was elected to the Assembly six times – four times from Kendrapara in the past and twice from Patkura in 2009 and 2014.

Describing the late leader as an able parliamentarian and administrator, Patnaik conveyed his deep sympathy to the bereaved family. “His death is a great loss for all of us. His organisational ability and dedication for the welfare of general public will be remembered forever. He was also a close associate of Biju Babu,” he said.

The Patkura Assembly election will be countermanded in view of Agarwalla’s death. The Election Commission of India will shortly issue a fresh polling schedule.

The fate of BJP’s nominee former minister, Bijoy Mohapatra, in the fray in Patkura now hangs in the balance.

Patkura was scheduled to go to the polls along with six Lok Sabha and 42 Assembly constituencies in the fourth phase of the general election on April 29.