Angul, March 27 -- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday paid tribute to former Union Minister Debendra Pradhan.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi was also present.

Manjhi, speaking to ANI, said that the tribute was held on the 'ekadasha' of the late Debendra Pradhan.

"This is the 'ekadasha' of late Debendra Pradhan. So, we reached his residence in Talcher and paid him tribute. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also came here with me. All of us paid tribute to him," Manjhi said.

Pradhan, who passed away at the age of 84, was the father of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, was a member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha from the Deogarh parliamentary constituency of ...