BJD leader Ayub Khan, former Kantabanji MLA, dies at 78
Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former legislator Haji Md. Ayub Khan passed away at his residence in Kantabanji, Balangir district, Odisha, on Wednesday, 13 May, at the age of 78. According to sources, the veteran politician died following a prolonged illness, leaving behind a legacy of grassroots political service across the Kantabanji region.
A Career Built on the Ground
Ayub Khan first entered the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 2004, winning the Kantabanji seat as an independent candidate — a feat that underscored his personal popularity independent of party machinery. He subsequently joined the BJD and retained the constituency in the 2014 Assembly elections on the party's ticket, cementing his standing as one of the region's most enduring political figures.
Tributes from Across the Political Spectrum
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed condolences on his X handle, writing:
