Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik paid his last respects to Patkura MLA Bed Prakash Agrawal at the BJD headquarters here.

Bedu Babu, as he was popularly known, died today following a prolonged illness.

A sitting MLA, 83-year-old Agarwalla was undergoing treatment in a private hospital here for last few months, was the party candidate from the Patkura Assembly segment.

Agarwalla, a six-time MLA, started his political career as councillor from Kendrapara Municipality and then went on to become the Chairman of the Kendrapara Municipality. A close confidante of Biju Patnaik, Agarwalla had later joined the BJP in late 1990s.

“Bed Prakash Agarwalla was a close associate of Biju Babu. His death is a great loss for all of us. I convey my deep sympathy to the bereaved family,” said CM Patnaik.