Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha minister and senior BJD leader Surendranath Naik died in Bhubaneswar Friday morning, his family said.
He was 87.
Naik was suffering from age-related ailments and died at his residence here, his family said.
He was elected to the Odisha Assembly seven times from the Kakatpur constituency on Utkal Congress, Janata Dal and BJD tickets between 1971 and 2009.
Naik had served as the minister of several departments, including excise, revenue, agriculture, school and mass education and panchayati raj under the leadership of Biju Patnaik and Naveen Patnaik.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers K V Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, Speaker Surama Padhi and several others paid floral tribute to the politician in the state assembly.
Majhi said Odisha has “lost a tall leader and the vacuum created by his demise will remain unfilled”. He expressed condolences to the bereaved family of Naik.
ପୂର୍ବତନ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ତଥା କାକଟପୁରର ୭ଥରର ବିଧାୟକ ସୁରେନ୍ଦ୍ର ନାଥ ନାୟକଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ସରପଞ୍ଚରୁ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ତାଙ୍କର ରାଜନୀତି ଜୀବନ ପ୍ରେରଣାଦାୟକ ଅଟେ । ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରକୁ ଭଗବାନ ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ, ଏତିକି ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ କାମନା…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) July 5, 2024
In a post on X, Singh Deo said, “Heartfelt condolences on the passing of Shri Surendranath Naik, a true leader and dedicated seven-time MLA from Kakatpur. His contributions to our community will never be forgotten.”
Heartfelt condolences on the passing of Shri Surendranath Naik, a true leader and dedicated seven-time MLA from Kakatpur. His contributions to our community will never be forgotten.@CMO_Odisha @BJP4Odisha @BJP4India #bjpindia #BJPodisha #bjp #patnagarh #khaprakhol #belpada… pic.twitter.com/1xCbHpy8lL
— Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo (Modiji Ka Parivar) (@KVSinghDeo1) July 5, 2024
Former chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik condoled the death of Naik and said his dedication towards serving the Kakatpur people will always be remembered.
“As an able politician and public representative, his humanitarian work will be a source of inspiration for all. May his soul rest in peace and my condolences to the bereaved family members,” Patnaik said.
ବରିଷ୍ଠ ନେତା, ପୂର୍ବତନ ବିଧାୟକ, ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ତଥା ପୂର୍ବତନ ଉପ-ବାଚସ୍ପତି ସୁରେନ୍ଦ୍ରନାଥ ନାୟକଙ୍କ ପାର୍ଥିବ ଶରୀରର ଶେଷ ଦର୍ଶନ କରି ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଜଣାଇଲି। ଲୋକଙ୍କ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ପାଇଁ ଜନପ୍ରତିନିଧି ଭାବେ ତାଙ୍କ ଅବଦାନ ଅତୁଳନୀୟ। ଦିବଙ୍ଗତ ନେତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି। pic.twitter.com/r9FP3fMyMe
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 5, 2024
The mortal remains of Naik were taken to Sankha Bhawan, the BJD headquarters, where senior party leaders paid respect to him.
PTI
