PRASAD HARICHANDAN was born on the 12th of May, 1964 at Nanakera, a river deltaic village in Puri district of coastal Odisha. He comes from a farmer’s family.

His father, Fakir Harichandan participated in freedom struggle as a young student. He started his career as a devoted teacher with burning passion for social service. A versatile writer in Odia, Fakir Harichandan used all forms of literature like poetry, short story, drama, novel and essay with equal felicity. He is also a noted historian. Shri Harichandan bagged many prestigious awards and accolades including Sahitya Academy Award for his “Khordha Itihasara Antarale”. He joined public life and was elected Chairman of Kanas Panchayat Samiti for successive five terms.

Prasad grew up in an environment that instilled in him moral values, empathy and generosity and spirit of social service. He acquired a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Post Graduate Teaching Department of Political Science of Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. In 1984, Prasad began his political career in the Congress Party as an activist of NSUI, the frontal organization for students, where he became the General Secretary of its state unit in 1985. He was appointed as the National Joint Secretary of NSUI and subsequently, elevated to the post of General Secretary.

From NSUI, Prasad went over to Youth Congress in 1996. He was appointed as the National General Secretary of Indian Youth Congress in 1997 and was given the charge of sensitive North Eastern states.

Prasad entered mainstream politics in 1990. He was pitted as the Congress candidate against Biju Patnaik, the political colossus by late Rajiv Gandhiji from prestigious Bhubaneswar constituency in the General Election to Orissa Legislative Assembly in 1990.

Prasad moved to his native Satyabadi Assembly Constituency and was elected as one of the youngest MLAs. He was made the youngest Minister of State in 1999 and held Home, Science, Technology and Culture departments. During his short stint as a Minister, he took personal initiative to establish Institute of Mathematics and Application and Utkal University of Culture. He introduced community policing in the state and demonstrated determination to go after crime.

In 2000, Prasad repeated his success for the second time in a row and returned to the Twelfth Orissa Legislative Assembly. The Orissa Legislative Assembly honoured him with first ever Best MLA Award in the year 2002.

Prasad Harichandan was appointed as the President of Puri District Congress Committee in 1997 and continued as such until he was inducted as a Minister of State in 1999.

Prasad Harichandan was the Chief Spokesperson of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee from 2004 to 2006. He has been the General Secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee since 2006. He is also an elected Member of All India Congress Committee.

It is his third term in the Fourteenth Orissa Legislative Assembly. He is among three Congress MLAs of coastal Odisha who won election in 2009 and the only Congress MLA of coastal Odisha who defeated ruling BJD candidate. Presently, Prasad Harichandan is the Chief Whip of the Congress Legislative Party in Orissa Legislative Assembly. He is known for his organizational skill with long standing experience in NSUI, Youth Congress and mainstream Congress party also. He spearheaded the electioneering in Laxmipur Bye-election to Odisha Assembly 2008 in the team of Sri Jayadeb Jena, President, PCC where Congress gave a crossing defeat to the ruling BJD. Congress snatched away the central zone Zilla Parishad seat of Satyabadi from the ruling BJD in 2010 bye-election under Sri Harichandan’s stewardship despite of massive muscle and money use by BJD party and misuse of Government machinery.

Prasad Harichandan is a popular public face of Congress in Odisha. A sauve and articulate politician, he is regarded as a youthful and energetic mass leader with innovative thoughts.

Prasad Harichandan received many awards and earned honours for his outstanding legislative performance and public service activities. To name a few, he was conferred on Rajib Gandhi Sadvabana Award , 2010, Chintamani Panigrahy Memorial Award,2010 and R.N.Singhdeo Centenary Award ,2011 as the Best Legislator.

He is the Chairman of the Sub-Committee of the Public Accounts Committee of the Assembly and member of important committees like Committee on Privileges, Rules Committee, Committee on Ethics and House Committees.