Bhubaneswar: Former minister and ex-BJD MLA Susanta Singh died at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 53.A bachelor, Singh had been battling motor neuron disease for over three years, family members said. Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, former CM and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, and politicians across party lines condoled with the bereaved family.Hailing from Bausenmora village in Bargarh district’s Sohela block, Singh was elected from Bhatli assembly constituency in 2009, 2014 and 2019 before losing the seat in the 2024 elections. Coming from a modest background, he was known for his strong grassroots connect, and played a key role in strengthening the BJD organisation in western Odisha.He first served as minister of state (independent charge) for labour and employment department in 2017 in the Naveen Patnaik govt and was later elevated to the cabinet rank with charge of the rural development department after the 2019 election.During the Covid-19 pandemic, Singh earned praise for personally transporting patients to hospitals.He is survived by his two elder sisters and two younger brothers. Son of a driver, Singh had lost his parents in teenage.Expressing grief, Naveen said with his demise, the party has lost a skilled organiser and a popular leader. “His contributions to strengthening the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), along with his service to the people, will always remain memorable. I pray for the eternal peace of his soul and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” he said.Bhatli BJP MLA Irasis Acharya said Singh’s death had created a void in Odisha politics and public life. “It is a major loss for the people of the Bhatli constituency. He remained closely connected with the people, served as a minister and made significant contributions through his social work. His demise has left a big vacuum in Odisha politics,” Acharya said.
