Bhubaneswar, Feb 13: Former Union Minister Kanhu Charan Lenka passed away at the age of 86 on Friday. He breathed his last at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar, family sources informed.

Lenka had a long and distinguished political career spanning nearly four decades. He served as a Member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Choudwar between 1995 and 2000. Earlier, he represented Odisha in the Rajya Sabha from 1988 to 1994.

At the Centre, Lenka served as Minister of State for Railways and later as Minister of State for Agriculture in the government led by former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. During his tenure, he was associated with key administrative responsibilities in both ministries.

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Expressing grief over Lenka's death, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wrote on 'X', "I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear about the demise of senior Odisha leader and former Union Minister Kahnu Charan Lenka. As a minister and parliamentarian, he carried out his responsibilities with utmost dedication and integrity. He left a lasting mark on Odisha’s development and carved out a distinct identity for himself in national politics. As a politician, his contributions to the field will be remembered for years to come. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul. Om Shanti."

ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବରିଷ୍ଠ ନେତା, ପୂର୍ବତନ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ କାହ୍ନୁ ଚରଣ ଲେଙ୍କାଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଓ ସାଂସଦ ଭାବରେ ସେ ନିଜର ଦାୟିତ୍ୱକୁ ନିଷ୍ଠାର ସହ ତୁଲାଇଥିଲେ ।

ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିକାଶରେ ନିଜର ଛାପ ଛାଡିବା ସହ ଜାତୀୟ ରାଜନୀତିରେ ଏକ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ପରିଚୟ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିପାରିଥିଲେ । ଜଣେ ରାଜନେତା ଭାବରେ…

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 13, 2026

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over Lenka’s demise, stating, “I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of senior leader, former Union Minister and former MP Kahnu Charan Lenka. In this hour of grief, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and pray to Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath for eternal peace of the departed soul. Om Shanti.”

ବରିଷ୍ଠ ନେତା, ପୂର୍ବତନ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ତଥା ପୂର୍ବତନ ସାଂସଦ କାହ୍ନୁ ଚରଣ ଲେଙ୍କାଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଏହି ଦୁଖଃଦ ସମୟରେ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ଦିବଙ୍ଗତ ଆତ୍ମାଙ୍କ ଶାନ୍ତି ପାଇଁ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି।
​ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି। 🙏 pic.twitter.com/zIndCQHq6W

— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) February 13, 2026

Decades of Service in Politics
Lenka joined the Congress Seva Dal in 1957 during his student days. Over the years, he also worked as an observer for the All India Congress Committee in different states, playing an organisational role within the party structure.