Jagannath Mishra: Among the tallest Congress leaders of Bihar
New Delhi:Three-time Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra, fondly called Doctor Sahib, passed away at the age of 82 in New Delhi on Monday after multi-organ failure.
Of late, he had lost political significance, but his contribution to Bihar and its development cannot be underestimated.
Jagannath Mishra, younger brother of the assassinated Lalit Narayan Mishra, was one of the tallest Congress leaders in Bihar, never short of political wisdom and sharp analysis.
Lalit Narayan Mishra was killed in a bomb blast at Samastipur Railway station on January 2, 1975. Jagananth Mishra was also present there. He was badly injured in the blast but survived.
After the incident, Jagannath Mishra rose on the political horizon of Bihar like a shining star and became the Chief Minister of the state for the first time in 1975.
Beginning his career as a professor of economics in Bihar University, he emerged as the most powerful Congress leader in the state in the 70s and 80s becoming chief minister of the state thrice – from 1975 to 1977, 1980 to 1983 and 1989 to 1990. He was known as a mass leader with his hands on the political pulse of Bihar.
He also became a union minister in the Narasimha Rao-led Congress government in the 90s.
Later, he became disillusioned with the Congress Party and joined the NCP and later the JD(U).
Jagannath Mishra had his fair share of controversies too. He was convicted in the fodder scam but was later granted bail.
After his death on Monday, condolence messages poured in from political parties cutting across party lines.
