Congress leader and former MlA from Tirtol constituency Nityananda Samantaray passed away at his Rajabagicha residence here on Friday. He was 85. Samantray, born on April 25, 1933 at Kolar village in Jagatsinghpur district, had joined the Congress after completing his engineering studies.
Elected to the State Assembly from the Tirtol constituency in 1985, Samanatray always worked for the poorest of the poor in the society and remained a grassroots-level leader all through his tenure.
Till his death, he also remained associated with a number of educational institutions including Jagatpur High School, Samantarapur High School and Tirtol College. His son Debasish Samantaray is the incumbent Cuttack Barabati BJD MlA.
Supporters, leaders across party lines and imminent persons from various strata of the society reached the departed leader’s home and paid their last respects to him.