Odisha News: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Oct 19: Senior political leader and former Odisha MLA Utkal Keshari Parida passed away on Saturday at a hospital in Bhubaneswar after a brief illness. He was 65 years old. Parida, a former legislator representing the Kendrapada constituency, was receiving treatment at a private hospital when he breathed his last, as confirmed by family sources.
Parida’s political career began during his college years when he served as the President of the Salipur College Students’ Union from 1980 to 1981. His political journey took a significant leap when he was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly in the 2004 elections as a candidate for the Odisha Gana Parishad (OGP), defeating BJP candidate Bed Prakash Agarwal.
In addition to his legislative work, Parida was an influential figure in sports; he was unanimously elected vice president of the Odisha Archery Association in 2021 and served as a director of the Jute Marketing Co-operative Society. His contributions to politics and sports have left a lasting impact on the community.
