Rayagada: Former Gunupur MLA Ramamurthy Gomango passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the early hours of Friday. He was 75.

According to reports, Gomango had been suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes. As his health condition deteriorated, he was admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar two days ago and was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for treatment.

Gomango was a prominent political figure in the Rayagada district. Under the leadership of late Biju Patnaik, he broke the Congress stronghold in Gunupur and was elected as an MLA from the constituency on a Janata Dal ticket in the 1990 Assembly elections.

Later, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and successfully contested the 2000 Assembly elections during the BJD-BJP alliance.

Notably, Gomango remains the first and only BJP candidate to have won an Assembly election from Gunupur.

Before entering politics, Gomango worked in the banking sector. Inspired by the ideology of Biju Patnaik, he left his job and joined active politics. During his tenure as MLA, several development projects were undertaken in the Gunupur constituency. The construction of the Gunupur bridge was completed during his term and was inaugurated by Biju Patnaik.

However, Gomango later found himself embroiled in controversy after allegations surfaced regarding the murder of his wife. In this case, a special court in Bhubaneswar convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment.