10th Odisha MLA V Sugnana Kumari Deo dies at 87

Veteran BJD leader and 10th Odisha MLA V Sugnana Kumari Deo died on Saturday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai, officials said. She is 87 years old.

They said Deo died around 1 am after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other senior party leaders met her at the hospital on Friday evening. She belongs to the royal family of Hallicott. Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and many other dignitaries expressed condolences on Deo’s death.

“Saddened to learn about the death of V Sugnana Kumar Deo. She was a very senior leader of the BJD and had contributed a lot to the party. She represented the party in Kalikote and Kabhi Surya Nagar She left her mark in public service. Her 10-time election to Parliament is an irreparable loss. May her soul rest in peace and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” Patnaik said on X said in a post. Deo was first elected to the Orissa Assembly in 1963. She was MP from Halikot eight times and MP from Odisha twice. From Kabi Surya Nagar. She was elected to the Assembly in 1963, 1974, 1977, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2014.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)