Former Minister Santosh Sahu dead

Bhubaneswar, Nov 2 (UNI) Senior Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member Santosh Kumar Sahu (72) passed away at his residence today.

Sahu, who was elected to the state assembly twice from Baripada Assembly constituency, was a Deputy Minister of Health (Local Self Government), Cultural Affairs, Co-operation and Forestry with the Biren Mitra government in 1963.

He was inducted once again as a Deputy Minister of Co-operation, Forestry, Mining and Geology in the Sadashiba Tripathy cabinet in 1967.

Sahu was twice elected as a Rajya Sabha member, during 1976-82 and 1988-94.

He joined the Indian National Congress at a very young age and got the ministerial berth when he was only 29. He was also an important Co-operator and had actively participated in the state's co-operative movement.

He was the President of the State Co-operative Federation.

Several Congress leaders condoled the demise of Sahu and said his death had created a vacuum in the political arena of tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district.

Congress party sources said his body would be brought to the Congress Bhawan and then taken to the State Assembly for the public to pay homage to this great leader.

Sahu is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.

UNI DP PP SI BS1609