New Delhi, Jul 2 : Veteran Communist leader from Bihar and former union Agriculture Minister Chaturanan Mishra died here today following prolonged illness. The 86-year-old CPI leader breathed his last in AIIMS this morning.
Mishra was ailing for quite some time but his condition deteriorated and was admitted in the hospital last evening.
Mishra joined the freedom struggle in his students days in Madhubani and was arrested twice for his participation in the struggle. He joined CPI in early 1940s. After independence, he emerged as one of the top leaders of the trade union and communist movement in Bihar. He was twice the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar. After two terms in Rajya Sabha, he was elected to Lok Sabha from Madhubani in 1996.
Mishra became a member of CPI National Council in mid-1970s and rose to become one of the secretaries of the National Council of CPI.
When in 1997 the CPI joined the United Front government headed by H D Deve Gowda, Mishra became Agriculture Minister. PTI
