Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha MLA Dr. Raseswari Panigrahi paid a heartfelt tribute to her brother and former parliamentarian and legislator Sriballav Panigrahi on his eighth death anniversary today.

"It’s been 8 years since Ballabha Dada (as I used to affectionately call him) passed away. I still find it difficult to believe that he is no more with us. He was the guiding light of our family, and his absence is a personal loss to me. Needless to say with his passing away, Odisha lost a great son and Western Odisha, its most vocal proponent," Dr. Panigrahi said.

As a politician, he belonged to a different breed. Draped in Khadi from top to bottom, he was in politics only for one reason: public good. He never compromised on his values and the principles of honesty and integrity despite being a Minister, Member of Parliament and Member of Odisha’s Legislative Assembly, she said.

Dr Panigrahi, the former legislator from Sambalpur, praised the late Congress leader recalling past days when she was contesting the Assembly elections on BJD ticket in 2014.

"During my own election in 2014, when I was contesting as the BJD candidate for Sambalpur Assembly Constituency, he did something remarkable and my respect for him increased manifold after learning of this incident. Such was his dedication to his party that he couldn’t get himself to vote for any non-Congress candidate and despite being my own brother, he didn’t vote for me. At the same time, his brotherly love meant that he couldn’t vote against me as well. He went to our native place Bargaon which was a part of the Rairakhol Assembly Constituency and cast his vote as per his conviction. I am yet to find such a fine example of dedication to the ideology of one’s political party," she recalled.

An able administrator, an outstanding parliamentarian and a hardworking trade union leader, Sriballav Panigrahi wore many hats with ease. His squeaky-clean reputation remained untainted till the end.

"I firmly believe that during his life and times, he didn’t get what he so richly deserved. He was clearly made for bigger things and higher responsibilities in his political career. He never compromised on his principles even if they became a stumbling block in progressing his career," Dr. Panigrahi said.

On the occassion of his 8th death anniversary today, Dr. Panigrahi vowed to continue to be inspired by her late brother's principles, lifestyle and high ideals to offer true homage to him.