Erstwhile Paralakhemundi King and former MP Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar in the wee hours of Friday. He was 76.
He is survived by daughter Kalyani Devi, who joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in February 2019.
Deo, who was undergoing treatment due to heart-related ailments, passed away at around 4 am. He was under medication for over three years. Earlier, he had been admitted to a hospital in Chennai in August 2016.
Deo was elected as Brahmapur MP on Congress ticket for twice in 1989 and 1991. He joined the BJP in 1998 before shifting to the BJD in 2009. Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb visited the hospital to pay last respects to Deo. He said, “The Paralakhemundi royal family contributed immensely for formation of Odisha. The family is also part of the Puri Gajapati family. I want to thank the State Government for extending financial support for treatment of the Parala King for over three years.”
Expressing deep grief, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said Deo’s death is an irreparable loss for the entire State.
Several BJP leaders, including State president Basant Panda, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Nayak, former Legislature Party Leader Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and MP Sangita Singh Deo also condoled the Deo’s demise.
