Former Bihar CM Jagannath Mishra passes away

Former Chief Minister of Bihar, Dr Jagannath Mishra passed away on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 81.

Mishra, who served as Chief Minister of the State thrice, was admitted in a hospital in New Delhi after he was diagnosed with cancer. His son Nitish Mishra, who earlier served as a JD (U) legislator and a Cabinet Minister in Nitish Kumar regime, is presently in the BJP.

Mishra was sworn in as Chief Minister for the first time in 1975 soon after his elder brother Lalit Narayan Mishra, who was Union Railway Minister in Indira Gandhi Cabinet, was assassinated in the State. The junior Mishra was again sworn in as CM in 1980 after the Janata Party regime was uprooted following Indira Gandhi’s comeback in the same year. However, when Rajiv Gandhi took over as Congress general secretary, Mishra was shown the door in 1983.

Later when Rajiv Gandhi served as PM, he appointed Mishra as Bihar CM again in November 1989. But his third tenure was short-lived as Lalu Prasad swept the Bihar Assembly polls in March 1990. Mishra was, therefore, the last Congress Chief Minister in the State.

In the early 90s, Mishra also served as Union Minister in PV Narasimha Rao Cabinet. Later, he quit the Congress and joined the NCP.

Mishra, who was incarcerated following his conviction in fodder scam, was granted provisional bail by the court on medical grounds.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has condoled his death and announced a three-day mourning in the State. “It’s not only a great loss to the State but also to the country,” said Nitish in his condolence message.