By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/BERHAMPUR/NEW DELHI: Former Odisha Finance Minister and Ganjam Tiger, Rama Krishna Patnaik passed away on Friday. He was 81. Ramakrushna, his wife and former MP from Aska Kumudini Patnaik, and their daughter Anita had joined the BJP in March 2014. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP National VP Baijayant Jay Panda and senior BJP leader KV Singh Deo have condole the death of Patnaik.
“ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପୂର୍ବତନ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ତଥା ଆମ ଦଳର ବରିଷ୍ଠ ରାଜନେତା ରାମକୃଷ୍ଣ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗରେ ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ତାଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଜଣେ ଅନୁଭବୀ ରାଜନୀତିଜ୍ଞ ଓ ଦକ୍ଷ ମଣିଷକୁ ହରାଇଲା । ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି । ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି,” Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted @dpradhanbjp.
“Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of senior Odisha BJP leader Shri Ramakrushna Patnaik. He had a storied career & held many important positions, including finance minister of the state.I fondly recall his affection & guidance in my early years in public life.Om Shanti Folded handsFolded hands,” BJP National VP Baijayant Jay Panda tweeted @PandaJay.
“Deeply shocked & saddened to learn the sad news of Ex-Finance Minister Ramkrishna Pattnaik, he was a store house of knowledge was fortunate to be with him in the assembly & cabinet, pray to the almighty to give strength to his family to bear the irreparable loss – Aum Shanti Folded hands,” Former Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo tweeted @KVSinghDeo1.
A 5 times MLA from Kodala assembly constituency in Ganjam district, Ramakrushna had handled important portfolios as minister. He was the Leader of Opposition in Odisha Legislative Assembly from 1996 to 1997. He was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Kodala, Odisha in the 1977, 1980, 1995 and 2000 as a member of the Janata Party, Janata Dal and Biju Janata Dal.Late Patnaik was a cabinet minister under Biju Patnaik from 1990 to 1995 before he joined the Naveen Patnaik ministry in 2000.
