Bhubaneswar: The state of Odisha is enveloped in a somber atmosphere following the demise of seasoned politician Sugnana Kumari Deo, who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for ten consecutive terms. The news of her passing has prompted an outpouring of condolences from prominent leaders, including Governor Raghubar Das, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, transcending political affiliations.
Expressing profound sorrow over the loss, Governor Das conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family and supporters of the late Khallikote queen. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, through a post on social media, paid tribute to Deo’s significant contributions to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and her unwavering dedication to public service. Describing her as a stalwart leader, he acknowledged her remarkable tenure representing Khalikote and Kabisuryanagar assembly constituencies, emphasizing the indelible mark she left on the political landscape of Odisha.
ଖଲ୍ଲିକୋଟ ରାଣୀ ତଥା ପୂର୍ବତନ ବିଧାୟିକା ଭି. ସୁଜ୍ଞାନ କୁମାରୀ ଦେଓଙ୍କ ପରଲୋକରେ ମାନ୍ୟବର ରାଜ୍ୟପାଳ ଗଭୀର ଶୋକ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରି ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗ ଓ ଅନୁଗାମୀଙ୍କୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦ୍ଗତି କାମନା କରିଛନ୍ତି l ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଲୋକକ୍ଷେତ୍ରକୁ ତାଙ୍କର ଅତୁଳନୀୟ ଅବଦାନ ପାଇଁ ସେ ଚିରସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇ ରହିବେ ବୋଲି କହିଛନ୍ତି। pic.twitter.com/EbElsdnbD3
— Governor Odisha (@GovernorOdisha) February 10, 2024
ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ରାଜନୀତିଜ୍ଞ ତଥା ପୂର୍ବତନ ବିଧାୟିକା ଭି. ସୁଜ୍ଞାନ କୁମାରୀ ଦେଓଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳର ବରିଷ୍ଠ ନେତ୍ରୀ ଭାବେ ଦଳକୁ ସଙ୍ଗଠିତ କରିବାରେ ତାଙ୍କର ବଡ଼ ଯୋଗଦାନ ରହିଛି। ଖଲିକୋଟ ଓ କବିସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟନଗର ବିଧାନସଭା ନିର୍ବାଚନମଣ୍ଡଳୀରୁ ୧୦ଥର ବିଧାୟିକା ଭାବେ ପ୍ରତିନିଧିତ୍ୱ କରି ଜନସେବାରେ ସେ ନିଜର… pic.twitter.com/O2A6al1fS6
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) February 10, 2024
Similarly, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan lamented Deo’s demise, recognizing her as a revered figure in Odisha’s political arena. He lauded her social service and leadership, expressing condolences to her bereaved family.
ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ରାଜନୀତିଜ୍ଞ, ପୂର୍ବତନ ବିଧାୟିକା ତଥା ଖଲ୍ଲିକୋଟର ରାଣୀ ଭି. ସୁଜ୍ଞାନ କୁମାରୀ ଦେଓଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ଦୀର୍ଘ ସମୟ ଧରି ବିଧାୟିକା ଭାବେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଜନମାନସରେ ସେ ସୁପରିଚିତ ଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଜଣେ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟବାଦୀ ରାଜନେତ୍ରୀଙ୍କୁ ହରାଇଲା । ରାଜ୍ୟ ରାଜନୀତି ଜଗତରେ ଜନପ୍ରତିନିଧି ଭାବେ…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 10, 2024
The passing of Sugnana Kumari Deo marks the end of an era in Odisha’s political history. Her influence and contributions to the state’s governance will be remembered fondly, serving as a source of inspiration for future generations of leaders.
Deo, aged 87, breathed her last at a private hospital in Chennai after battling a serious illness. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who had visited her during her hospitalization, closely monitored her health and engaged with medical professionals in hopes of her recovery.
As the news of her demise reverberates across the state, preparations are underway to transport her mortal remains to Bhubaneswar, where she will be accorded a final farewell. The loss of Sugnana Kumari Deo leaves a void in Odisha’s political landscape, but her legacy of service and dedication will continue to resonate in the hearts of the people she served.
