Bhubaneswar, Mar 22: Leaders, cutting across party lines, intellectuals, social workers, and people belonging to different walks of life visited Bhubaneswar on Saturday and paid rich tributes to former Union Minister Dr. Debendra Pradhan, who passed away on March 17 at the age of 84.

Union Ministers Giriraj Singh, G Kishan Reddy, Rao Indrajeet Singh and Anupriya Patel and MPs Arun Singh and Alok Sharma visited Dr Pradhan's residence in Bhubaneswar and paid floral tributes to him.

The leaders remembered Dr. Pradhan's contributions to nation-building and strengthening the BJP organization in Odisha.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sent a condolence message to the bereaved family. "Dr Debendra Pradhan was a great organizer. His contribution to national politics was immense. With his passing away, the nation lost a big leader. My condolences to the bereaved family" messaged Yogi Adityanath.

A district-level commemoration meeting was also held at Angul under the chairmanship of Pratap Chandra Pradhan. Leaders belonging to different political parties, members of various social organizations, social activists, and people from different walks of life joined the event and paid rich tributes to him.

Notably, Dr Debendra Pradhan was a doctor, a social worker, and a stalwart politician. He served the nation as a Union Minister in two stints in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments.

Dr Pradhan played a vital role in strengthening BJP organization in Odisha. He was associated with various social organizations. Leaders like Speaker Surama Padhi, former Minister Prasanna Acharya, Niranjan Patnaik, and Prafulla Chandra Ghadei who came in his close contacts, remembered him as a very friendly and cooperative leader. Ministers and MLAs also attended the commemoration ceremony.

They all remember Dr Pradhan's contribution to enhancing national highways in Odisha during his stint as Union Transport and Surface Minister.

Speaker Surama Padhy remembered how Dr Pradhan supported her stay in his government quarters in Delhi during her stint as BJP Mahila national president. "As a woman, I didn't feel insecure to stay in Delhi as Debendra Bhai was there to support me. He groomed many young leaders and strengthened the BJP in Odisha. His contributions to Odisha's road development are well-remembering," said Padhy.

BJD leader Prasanna Acharya remembered Dr Pradhan as an amicable personality. As a Union Transport and Surface Minister, Dr Pradhan had sanctioned many NH projects in Odisha. He always thought of Odisha's development and worked in that direction, said Acharya.

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