Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Assembly Speaker and veteran Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Surjya Narayan Patro passed away Saturday following a brief illness.
He was 75.
A seven-time MLA, and prominent political leader from South Odisha, Patro was admitted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar this afternoon after his health deteriorated, a source in BJD said.
Patro was born December 24, 1948 at Berhampur in Ganjam. He completed his graduation in Science and LLB followed by social service before joining politics. In 1977, he became the Municipal Councilor of Berhampur and never looked back.
Patro was the sitting MLA from Digapahandi Assembly constituency and closely associated with legendary political leader late Biju Patnaik.
Patro during his political career of three decades had held several portfolios in both Biju Patnaik and Naveen Patnaik cabinets.
PNN