J B Patnaik passes away in Tirupati; PM Modi pays tribute

JB Patnaik, governor of Assam and a 3-time chief minister of Odisha

J B Patnaik, a three-time Odisha chief minister and Assam Governor, passed away in Tirupati today. He was 89.

Patnaik was in the temple town to attend the convocation ceremony of the Rashtriya Sanskrit University.
He had to be admitted to hospital after he complained of a chest pain late at night. His last rites will be done in Puri.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid his condolences.

Shri JB Patnaik’s contribution to Odisha’s development will always be remembered. Saddened on his demise. Condolences to his family: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 21, 2015

Shri JB Patnaik will be remembered as a pillar of Odisha politics, a popular leader always connected with people’s views & aspirations: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 21, 2015

Janaki Ballabh Patnaik was born on January 3, 1927. The Congress leader first became chief minister of Odisha in 1980 and was in power till 1989. He returned for a four-year stint in 1995. He has been Assam Governor since 2009.

Patnaik passed out with a degree in Sanskrit from the Utkal University in 1947 and secured an M.A. degree in Political Science from the Banaras Hindu University in 1949. A year later, he became President of the Orissa state unit of the Congress youth wing. In 1980, he became the Union Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Labour.

(With inputs from Debabrata Mohanty)