Veteran BJD leader ‘Khallikote Rani’ V Sugnana Kumari Deo passes away

Veteran BJD leader ‘Khallikote Rani’ V Sugnana Kumari Deo passes away

Veteran Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and 10-time former Odisha MLA V Sugnana Kumari Deo, a member of the erstwhile Khallikote royal family, passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Chennai early Saturday morning. She was 87.

According to hospital sources, she breathed her last at 12.44 am.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik along with two senior cabinet colleagues from Ganjam district rushed to Chennai on Friday evening to personally inquire into the veteran leader’s health condition.

Deo, who was first elected to the state Assembly in 1961, was elected 10 times between 1961 and 2019 and had been in public life for around six decades.

She represented the Khallikote Assembly segment eight times and switched to the neighbouring Kabisuryanagar seat after Khallikote was reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates following the 2009 delimitation. She last won an election in 2014.

Despite being elected 10 times, Deo was known for declining the offer to become a minister. She had a huge support base and was respected by leaders cutting across party lines and used to be addressed as ‘Khallikote Rani’ (Queen of Khallikote).

Originally from Chennai, Deo had married the erstwhile royal scion of Khallikote late Purna Chandra Mardaraj Deo and was the daughter-in-law of Raja Ramchandra Mardaraj Deo, who had a significant role in the formation of Odisha as a special state in April 1, 1936. The Speaker’s chair in the Odisha Legislative Assembly has been donated by the Khallikote royal family.

According to her profile on the Odisha Assembly website, Deo has a master’s degree from the prestigious Madras University. After her decision not to fight elections in 2019, she moved to Chennai. Her hobbies included stamp collection, interior decoration, driving, reading and writing. She also had interests in sports like tennis, cycling, table tennis and cricket.

People from different walks of life, including leaders of various political parties, mourned Deo’s demise.

For the latest news from across India, Political updates, Explainers, Sports News, Opinion, Entertainment Updates and more Top News, visit Indian Express. Subscribe to our award-winning Newsletter Download our App here Android & iOS