Former Odisha Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro’s mortal remains consigned to flames

Digapahandi: The mortal remains of former Speaker of Odisha Assembly and current Digapahandi MLA Surjya Narayan Patro were consigned to flames at his native Digapahandi of Ganjam district today.

Patro’s mortal remains were consigned to the flames with full State honours in the presence of hundreds of public representatives and workers.

The mortal remains of former the Odisha Assembly Speaker was taken from Bhubaneswar to Digapahandi for the last rites.

It is to be noted here that the Patro breathed his last while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Later, the 75-year-old politician’s body was taken to his Nayapalli-based residence in Bhubaneswar.

Political leaders across party lines, and eminent persons from different fields paid their tributes to the former Odisha Speaker and Digapahandi MLA. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also paid his last respects to Patro.

Patro’s body was taken to his native Digapahandi this morning where his last rites were performed amid the presence of thousands of people.

A senior leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Patro was born on December 24, 1948 in Berhampur. After completing his schooling, he did his BSc and LLB. Later, he joined politics and became the Municipal Councillor of Berhampur in 1977.

Patro was elected as an MLA for the first time in 1990 from Mohana Constituency in Gajapati district. With this, he had been elected as Member of Legislative Assembly for seven times, including four times from Mohana and three times from Digapahandi of Ganjam district.

In his long political career spanning over more than three decades, the veteran politician, apart from becoming the speaker of Odisha assembly, had successfully headed different important ministries of the State government.