Former Minister Anand Acharya passed away at a private hospital here on Friday at the age of 77. Acharya, son of late Padmashree Krutartha Acharya and brother of former Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya, was a three-time MlA from Bargarh. He was a Minister from 2000-2004. He was the president of Sambalpur District Central Cooperative Bank during 1994-96, president of Sambalpuri Bastralaya Handloom Cooperative Societies ltd from 1979 to 1981 and president of the Odisha Weavers RsCooperative Spinning Mills ltd from 1994 to 1996. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condoled the death of Acharya.
