CM Majhi condoles death of former Lanjigarh MLA Shivaji Majhi

Key Takeaways

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi publicly mourned the passing of former legislator Shivaji Majhi on 19 August 2026 .

Shivaji Majhi was the former MLA from the Lanjigarh Vidhan Sabha constituency in Kalahandi district , Odisha.

The Chief Minister offered condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath for the peace of the departed soul.

The post was written in Odia and closed with the traditional invocation Om Shanti .

Exact details of Shivaji Majhi's tenure and the circumstances of his death have not been officially confirmed.

A former legislator from one of Odisha's most remote constituencies has passed away, drawing a public tribute from the state's highest office. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, over the death of Shivaji Majhi, former MLA from the Lanjigarh constituency in Kalahandi district.

Writing in Odia, the Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family and offered prayers to Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath for the peace of the departed soul — 'ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି' (Om Shanti) — closing with the traditional invocation of rest.

Lanjigarh's former voice in the Assembly

Lanjigarh is a Vidhan Sabha seat in Kalahandi district, a region long associated with tribal communities and development challenges in western Odisha. Shivaji Majhi had represented this constituency as a member of the state legislative assembly. The exact details of his tenure and the circumstances of his passing have not been officially confirmed at the time of publication.

Jagannath's name as a pillar of Odia public grief

In Odisha's political culture, invoking Lord Jagannath in condolence messages is a deeply rooted practice — a way of grounding public mourning in the state's dominant spiritual identity. Chief Ministers and legislators across party lines have long used this convention when paying tribute to departed public figures, lending a solemn, non-partisan weight to such statements.

Tributes from other political formations in Odisha and details of funeral proceedings in Lanjigarh are expected to follow.

Point of View

Framed through an invocation of Lord Jagannath, reflects the standard grammar of Odia political mourning — one that simultaneously signals personal empathy and cultural solidarity with the state's dominant spiritual identity. The tribute to a former MLA from Kalahandi, a district historically associated with poverty and tribal welfare concerns, also carries a subtle political undertone: maintaining goodwill with regional communities ahead of future electoral cycles. At a broader level, such public gestures by sitting chief ministers toward former legislators — regardless of party — reinforce the norm that elected service commands dignified farewell across political lines.

NationPress

19 Aug 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Shivaji Majhi?

Shivaji Majhi was a former member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, representing the Lanjigarh constituency in Kalahandi district.

Why did CM Mohan Majhi post a condolence message?

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over the passing of former Lanjigarh MLA Shivaji Majhi, offering condolences to the family and prayers to Lord Jagannath.

Where is Lanjigarh constituency located?

Lanjigarh is a Vidhan Sabha constituency situated in Kalahandi district in western Odisha.

What is the significance of invoking Lord Jagannath in Odisha condolence messages?

Lord Jagannath is the presiding deity of Odisha and a central figure in the state's cultural and spiritual identity. Invoking his name in condolences is a long-standing tradition in Odia public life.

What does 'Om Shanti' mean in this context?

'Om Shanti' is a Sanskrit invocation meaning 'may there be peace,' traditionally used in Hindu prayer and tribute to pray for the peaceful rest of a departed soul.