leaders cutting across party lines and several organisations, including religious institutions, expressed profound grief over the death of veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Odisha and former Assam Governor Janaki Ballabh Patnaik on Tuesday.
Governor Dr SC Jamir, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and leader of Opposition in Assembly Narasingha Mishra expressed deep grief over the demise of former Chief Minister and former Assam Governor JB Patnaik on Tuesday.
“I am deeply shocked over the sad demise of my good friend Janaki Ballabh Patnaik. In his demise, the State lost a visionary; the literary world an accomplished writer; and the nation one of its worthy sons,” Dr Jamir said in a condolence message.
In his message, the Chief Minister said, “I am deeply distressed at the sad demise of former Chief Minister, veteran politician and great literary figure Janaki Ballabh Patnaik. It is really very disheartening and a huge loss to the State.”
He said JB Patnaik immensely contributed to the development of the State as a Union Minister and a Chief Minister. Besides, he played a key role in strengthening cultural ties between Odisha and Assam during his tenure as Governor of Assam.
Narasingha Mishra termed Patnaik as a renowned people’s leader and litterateur.
PCC president Prasad Harichandan said, “While he (JB) was alive, he was a living legend and he will remain as a legend after his death. He will be remembered not only as a leader of Odisha but also as a leader of national stature.”
Congress Chief Whip in Assembly Tara Prasad Bahinipati said JB’s death is a great loss to the party.
Describing JB as a great politician, former PCC president Jayadev Jena said he would always be remembered for his contribution in eradicating poverty and unemployment in the State.
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram said the country lost an eminent political leader with the death of Patnaik. His contributions to the State are immense. As a Union Minister, Patnaik had made several remarkable works, he added.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan mourned Patnaik’s death, saying Janakibabu was an extraordinary personality, who dominated the political scene of Odisha for years.
The Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) also expressed deep condolence over the demise of Patnaik. Describing Patnaik as an eminent personality in the State Congress, OJM chief Pyari Mohan Mohapatra said his death is a major loss to the State’s politics. “Patnaik had brought revolutionary changes in the State’s culture and literature fields,” said Mohapatra.
Utkal Bharat president Kharabela Swain said, “Patnaik was a multi-talented personality, a scholar and a litterateur. He would be remembered forever for his works as the Chief Minister.”
The Samruddha Odisha expressed deep condolence over the death of Patnaik, saying he was actively associated with Odia language, culture and literature and politics. With his death, the State lost an eminent leader, said party secretary general Prabir Mohanty.
AICC secretary and former MP Dr Rama Chandra Khuntia expressed his deep condolence on the demise of Patnaik, saying his death is a great loss to Odisha, Odia language and the Congress party.
Odisha Krushak Mahasangha president and former MlA Bibhudhendra Pratap Das said Patnaik’s death is an irreparable loss to Odisha in the fields of politics, literature and culture.
Senior CPM leader Janardan Pati condoled the death, saying JB was a great figure in Odisha politics and his place cannot be filled in the State’s politics. CPI(Ml) liberation State secretary Khitish Biswal maintained that JB had profound knowledge in art, culture, tradition and literature. Hence, Odisha lost a great person.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State convenor Dhanada Kanta said JB Patnaik was a rare erudite political leader with decades of distinguished service in the fields of literature, journalism, politics and social service. “Patnaik’s death marks the end of an era in Odisha politics, he said.
On behalf of the All India Forward Bloc, State joint secretary Jyoti Ranjan Mohapatra condoled former Patnaik’s death, terming him as an eminent politician, noted litterateur and a noted researcher.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh also expressed its grief and said the State lost a great statesman, social worker, journalist and litterateur.
The Prajapita Brahma Kumari Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya described JB as a great culture lover and recalled the moment when Patnaik along with 16 of his MlAs had visited the Mount Abu during his tenure as leader of Opposition in the Assembly.
Utkal Bikash Yuva Parisada president Debiprasad Prusty said Patnaik was a politician who loved to respect and implement suggestions of the opposition leaders during his tenure as Chief Minister.
Navnirman Krushak Sangathan State coordinator Akshaya Kumar said a multi-faceted personality like Janakibabu might not come to politics in coming years.
The Dhenkanal unit of the Aama Odisha Party condoled Patnaik’s death by holding a meeting in which many party leaders, including Biprabar Sahu and Sadashiv Mohapatra, participated. Denkanal Parliament seat coordinator Suparno Satpatby paid tribute to Patnaik at the Bhubaneswar airport.