TNI Bureau: Former Odisha minister and MP Harihar Swain has passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in New Delhi today morning following prolonged illness. He was 73. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and several leaders expressed grief over his demise.

Swain was suffering from multiple ailments. He is survived by wife, a son and three daughters.

Swain was first elected to Odisha Assembly in 1977 from Aska from. He became the deputy minister during Janata Party regime in the state. Later, he had changed his party to Congress and was elected to the assembly from Kabisurya Nagar in 1995. He was the minister of PWD in JB Patnaik government.

Later, Swain joined BJD and elected to the Lok Sabha from Aska in 2004. He was suspended from the party and did not contest the 2009 polls.