The Odisha Legislative Assembly was adjourned for the day on Sunday, as a mark of respect to deceased Treasury Bench Member Pradeep Maharathy.Speaker OLA Surjya Narayan Patro adjourned the proceedings after the House made obituary references on the Pipili MLA.
“The House will remain adjourned till 10.30 am on Monday as a mark of respect to the departed member from Pipili,” Speaker Mr.Patro said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, after officially informing the House about Maharathy”s demise, said the BJD leader was elected to the Assembly seven times from Pipili between 1985 and 2019.
He also held the agriculture portfolio thrice in his political career spanning almost 40 years.
“He (Maharathy) expired in the early hours of 4 October, 2020. The death of the ex-Minister of this August House is an irreparable loss to the state and the members of his family,” the Chief Minister said.
Leader of the Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik also mourned the demise of the senior Lawmaker
“I am deeply hurt over the death of a popular leader like Maharathy. Let Lord Jagannath give peace to his soul,” the BJP leader stated.
The Speaker, before adjourning the House, said Maharathy”s dedication towards his work was “extraordinary”.
“His demise has created a void in state politics,” Mr.Patro said.
Mortal remains of the deceased Lawmaker were brought to the State Assembly premises, where the Ministers, Members of the House paid tributes to him.
Meanwhile, Maharathy’s mortal remains were consigned to flames at Swargadwar in Puri with full State Honor.
His son Rudra Pratap Maharathy lit the funeral pyre in presence of his daughter Pallvi, family members and BJD supporters.
Apart from School and Mass Education MInister Sameer Ranjan Dash, Puri District Collector Balwant Singh and SP Akhileswar Singh were also present.