Bhubaneswar, July 27: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former Odisha minister Sushant Singh passed away on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 53.

Singh had been undergoing treatment for an extended period and breathed his last at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar, according to reports.

A prominent face of the BJD in Bargarh district and western Odisha, Singh was elected three times as the MLA from the Bhatli Assembly constituency. During the BJD government's tenure, he served as a minister and handled key portfolios, including Labour and Energy.

Singh was defeated in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections. Following the electoral setback, his health reportedly declined, and he had been under medical care in recent months.

His demise marks the end of a significant political career, particularly in western Odisha, where he remained one of the BJD's most influential leaders for many years.