Bhubaneswar, March 22 -- Veteran politician and former Odisha Minister Damodar Rout passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here, this morning. He was declared brain dead, yesterday.

The health condition of the senior BJD leader was critical after a massive heart attack on March 18 night. He was on a life support system at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.

The 81-year-old politician was recently discharged from a private hospital after undergoing treatment for a certain illness.

Rout, a trained veterinary doctor by profession, had joined politics in 1970s. He was first elected to Odisha Assembly in 1977.

He had been elected to the Assembly seven times-five times from Erasama constituency in Jagatsinghpur and twic...