Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed his grief and condolences of the passing away of former Odisha chief minister J. B. Patnaik, and described him as a pillar of that state's politics, and an extremely popular personality.
Taking to Twitter to offer his condolences, the Prime Minister said, " Shri J B Patnaik will be remembered as a pillar of Odisha politics, a popular leader always connected with people's views and aspirations: PM."
He further stated "Shri J B Patnaik's contribution to Odisha's development will always be remembered. Saddened on his demise. Condolences to his family: PM"
Former Odisha chief minister and senior Congress leader Janaki Ballabh Patnaik passed away in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, early on Tuesday morning. He was 89.
Patnaik was in the temple town to attend the convocation ceremony of the Rashtriya Sanskrit University at Tirupati.
He was admitted to a local hospital after he complained of chest pain late last night.
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His body will be brought to Bhubaneswar this afternoon and his last rites will be performed in Puri.
Patnaik was born on January 3, 1927. He had been the Governor of Assam between 2009 and 2014. A leader of the Indian National Congress, he was Chief Minister of Odisha from 1980 to 1989 and again from 1995 to 1999, holding that post for the longest time on record before Naveen Patnaik
After the completion of his early education at Khurda High School, he passed his B.A. degree in Sanskrit from the Utkal University in 1947.
He acquired a Masters in political science from the Banaras Hindu University in 1949.
In 1950, he became the president of the Odisha unit of the Congress youth wing. In 1980, he became the Union Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Labour.
He first became chief minister of Odisha in 1980 and was in power till 1989. He returned for a four-year stint in 1995.