TNI Bureau: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Kahnu Charan Lenka (86) passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.

Lenka began his political journey in 1957 by joining the Congress Seva Dal during his student days and went on to serve the Congress party for nearly four decades. He held several key organisational positions, including General Secretary and President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, and was a member of the All India Congress Committee.

He stood firmly behind the leadership of Indira Gandhi during the Congress splits of 1969 and 1978 and played an important role in strengthening the party in Odisha. He also served as an AICC observer in several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

Lenka was also associated with national committees, including the National Drought Relief Committee headed by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and served on parliamentary consultative committees related to Railways and Steel.

Apart from politics, he made notable contributions to agriculture and social service. He was recognised by the Government of Odisha as the first farmer in the state to cultivate hybrid maize and jowar seeds in 1968. He also received the Vijay Ratna award for social service and railway development, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Excellence Award in 1995.

Lenka is remembered for his long public service and significant contributions to politics, agriculture and social development.