The State Assembly on Monday mourned the death of former Union Defence Minister George Fernandes, former Minister Chaitanya Prasad Majhi, former members Nityananda Gartia, Raj Kishore Pradhan, Parsuram Panda and Ratna Manjari Devi and former Rashtriya Rifle Lance Nayak Hemanta Kumar Panda.
CM Naveen Patnaik, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, BJP Legislature Party Leader KV Singh Deo, CPI(M) member Laxman Munda and Speaker Pradeep Kumar Amat expressed deep grief over the deaths. A one-minute silence was observed for the departed souls. The House also conveyed its condolences to the bereaved families. On the day, the Speaker announced that three seats in the House have been vacant due to the resignation of Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray, Sundargarh MLA Jogesh Singh and Jharsugda MLA Naba Kishore Das.