New Delhi: Former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra passed away on Monday following a prolonged illness. He was 82.
The former chief minister was suffering from old-age ailments and was undergoing treatment in the National Capital.
Expressing grief over his demise, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declared a three-day state mourning.
''Dr. Jagannath Mishra was a great leader and academician. Besides Bihar, his contribution to national politics was immense. His demise was not only a loss for Bihar but to the entire fraternity of politics, social and academia,'' the Chief Minister Office said.
His will be cremated with full state honors, Mr. Kumar declared. The Late Mishra had served as Bihar's Chief Minister thrice in his lifetime.
However, before heading as the Chief Minister, Mishra was a teacher.
He began his career as a lecturer and became a professor of economics at Bihar University. Later, he went on to join politics.
''Our deepest condolences to the family of Jagannath Mishra. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this time of grief,'' the Congress party said in a tweet.
As former CM of Bihar & a leader of the people, Mishra had served the nation with dedication & honor. Mishra, who was considered as close to Sanjay Gandhi, had also served as a minister in the Union Cabinet under Congress regime.
Later, he joined JDU. In 2013, he, along with 44 others, was convicted in a fodder scam case by a CBI court.