Former Odisha Assembly Speaker Maheswar Mohanty Hospitalized

Bhubaneswar: Former speaker of the Odisha assembly and ex-MLA of Puri, Maheswar Mohanty was hospitalized as he suddenly became sick on Wednesday night.

The senior BJD leader and former state minister was immediately admitted to a private hospital in the Chandrasekharpur area in Bhubaneswar. According to sources, he is being treated in the ICU of the hospital.

On Wednesday evening, he attended several functions in Puri. After attending the Gajalakshmi Puja celebration at the Badashankha area, he returned to his home. After reaching home, he felt uneasy and was immediately to the private hospital in Bhubaneswar.

Mohanty has represented the Puri assembly seat five times in the past. He was the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 21/05/2004 to 31/03/2008. He also served as a minister in Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet.

On February 21, 2014, while he was the state revenue minister,  Mohanty was fired at by miscreants near the Amala club in Puri. Bullets hit his hand and shoulder.