Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Finance Minister Ramakrushna Pattnaik passed away here on Friday morning. He was 81. He passed away at 9.30 am, informed his daughter Anita Subhadarshini.
The veteran politician was unwell for some days and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital here.
A six-time legislator from the Kodala Assembly constituency in Ganjam district, Pattnaik had handled important portfolios as a minister, including finance. He was the Leader of Opposition in Odisha Legislative Assembly from 1996 to 1997.
The senior leader was a minister in former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik’s Cabinet from 1990 to 1995 before he joined the Naveen Patnaik ministry in 2000.
In 2002, he quit the BJD following differences with party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and joined the Congress. Popularly known as “Ganjam Tiger”, Pattnaik and his wife quit the ‘Hand’ party in the run-up to the 2014 elections and joined the BJP. Pattnaik, his wife and daughter Anita had joined the BJP in March 2014. His wife was also a former MP from Aska.
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 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/nUXAyD5SWQ— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) December 24, 2021
