Former Odisha Minister Raghunath Patnaik passes away

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Jeypore, May 12:

Former Odisha Finance and Law Minister Raghunath Patnaik passed away here this morning following a brief illness. He was 89.

He was admitted to a private hospital in Jeypore yesterday due to complaints of chest pain and later he was put on ventilator support following complaints of dyspnea.

Leaders across party lines expressed grief over the death of Patnaik.

“Raghunath Patnaik was elected from Jeypore to the state Assembly several times. He held several important portfolios as a minister and discharged his duty with due diligence. The state has lost an eminent politician and able administrator. I express my deep condolences to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a press release.

His sons—Biren and Dhiren—and other family members were beside him when he breathed his last.

Notably, Patnaik was elected from the Jeypore constituency six times. He was the Finance and Law Minister in JB Patnaik government.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, PCC president Prasad Harichandan, BJP state president Basant Panda and other leaders expressed their condolences to the family members of the departed Congress leader.