Bhawanipatna, August 19: Former Lanjigarh MLA and tribal leader Shibaji Majhi passed away at the age of 55 in Danariguda village under Bijepur panchayat in Kalahandi district. He had been suffering from a kidney-related illness for a prolonged period and was undergoing treatment.

Majhi was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Lanjigarh in 2009 on a Congress ticket. He later joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and was appointed the first chairman of the Kalahandi Special Development Council.

A prominent tribal leader, Majhi had established a distinct identity in Kalahandi through his political and social work.

His death has triggered grief across the district. Lanjigarh MLA Pradip Dishari, former minister Pushpendra Singh Deo, and several other prominent personalities expressed condolences over his demise.