Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief on Friday, 26 June 2026, over the passing of Sharad Chandra Das, a veteran journalist and former bureau chief of the Press Trust of India (PTI) in Odisha, calling his death an irreplaceable loss for the state's media world.

What CM Majhi Said

Writing in Odia, the Chief Minister said he was saddened to learn of the demise of the distinguished journalist. He described Das as someone who was 'ଉଚ୍ଚ ମୂଲ୍ୟବୋଧ, ନିରପେକ୍ଷ ଉପସ୍ଥାପନା ଏବଂ ବୃତ୍ତିଗତ ସାଧୁତା' — 'high values, impartial presentation and professional integrity' — throughout his long journalism career. Majhi added that Das's deep knowledge and sharp analysis of state politics, administration and public welfare had set a benchmark in journalism.

The Chief Minister conveyed his 'deepest condolences to the bereaved family' and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

Context

Sharad Chandra Das spent his career at the Press Trust of India, India's premier wire news agency, heading its Odisha bureau. In that role he served as a key intermediary between the state's administration and the wider national media, covering politics, governance and welfare programmes over several decades.

Bureau chiefs at agencies such as PTI occupy a particularly influential position in state media ecosystems, as their reports supply content to newspapers, broadcasters and digital platforms across the country. Das was widely respected among Odisha's journalism fraternity for his impartiality and rigour.

Policy Backdrop

Indian political leaders across parties routinely issue formal condolence statements upon the death of senior journalists, a practice that reflects the acknowledged role of the press in documenting governance and public life. In Odisha, the tradition carries particular weight given the state's active political landscape and the importance of regional-language and national-agency reporting in amplifying welfare-scheme coverage.

Chief Minister Majhi, who assumed office in June 2024 after the BJP's victory in the Odisha assembly elections, has engaged consistently with the state's press community since taking charge.

Stakeholders and Impact

The death of Sharad Chandra Das is being mourned across Odisha's journalist community, with the Chief Minister's tribute likely to prompt similar condolences from other political parties and media bodies in the state. PTI's Odisha operations, which Das once led, will feel the loss of a figure who helped shape the agency's coverage of the state for years.

For Odisha's broader media ecosystem, Das represented a generation of bureau journalists who built their careers on ground-level accountability reporting rather than opinion-driven commentary.

What's Next

Tributes from other Odisha political leaders, press clubs and journalist associations are expected in the coming days. The journalism community may also consider formal recognition or an obituary event in Bhubaneswar to honour Das's contributions to the state's public discourse. His passing underscores an ongoing transition in Indian regional journalism as veteran practitioners of the wire-agency era give way to a newer generation.