Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, Mar 17: Former Union Minister and prominent leader Dr. Debendra Pradhan has passed away at the age of 84 in New Delhi.
Dr.Pradhan was survived by his son Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his wife.
Dr. Pradhan was not only a medical professional but also a farmer and social worker, known for his significant contributions in various fields.
Born on July 16, 1941, in Kaniha, Talcher, Dr. Pradhan completed his primary and high school education before pursuing higher studies at Angul College. He earned his MBBS degree in 1966 from the SCB Medical College in Cuttack. He began his career as a medical officer in Talcher and later retired in 1973.
In 1980, Dr. Pradhan joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and became the president of the BJP's Talcher Mandal. From 1983, he served as the president of the BJP in the Dhenkanal district. In 1984, he contested the Deogarh constituency as the BJP candidate for the Lok Sabha seat.
Dr. Pradhan's political journey continued to rise, and in 1988, he became the State President of the BJP in Odisha.
In 1997, he became a member of the BJP's National Executive. In 1998, he was elected as a Member of Parliament from Deogarh and served as a Union Minister in the central government. He was re-elected from Deogarh in 1999 and continued to serve as a Union Minister.
In 2001, he was appointed as the National Vice-President of the BJP.
