Veteran BJD Leader, 10-Time Odisha MLA V Sugnana Kumari Deo Passes Away at 87

GG News Bureau
Bhubaneswar, 10th Feb. V Sugnana Kumari Deo, a stalwart leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and a 10-time MLA from Odisha, breathed her last at a private hospital in Chennai on Saturday while undergoing treatment. She was 87 years old.

Deo passed away around 1 am, following a visit from Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other senior party members on Friday night. Hailing from the royal family of Khallikote, she held a prominent position in Odisha politics for decades.

Condolences poured in from various quarters, including Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and numerous dignitaries, expressing their grief over Deo’s demise.

Chief Minister Patnaik praised Deo’s significant contributions to the BJD and public service, highlighting her remarkable tenure as a 10-time MLA representing both Khallikote and Kabisuryanagar.

Deo’s political journey began in 1963 when she was first elected to the Odisha Assembly. She went on to serve as an eight-time MLA from Khallikote and a two-time MLA from Kabisuryanagar, winning elections in 1963, 1974, 1977, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2004, 2009, and 2014. Her demise is mourned as a significant loss in Odisha’s political landscape.