Odisha remembers JB Patnaik on his death anniversary

Bhubaneswar: Leaders cutting across political parties and people from several quarters of the society on Friday paid homage to former Odisha Chief Minister JB Patnaik on his 2nd death anniversary.

Paying homage to JB Patnaik, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described him as a great scholar, litterateur, and successful politician.

Homage to former Chief Minister Janaki Ballav Patnaik on his death anniversary. He was a great scholar, litterateur & successful politician. – tweeted the Chief Minister.

Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan also paid tribute to the great leader of Odisha.

Humble tributes to our beloved leader Former Governor, Chief Minister Late Shri Janaki Ballabh Patnaik on his death anniversary. – tweeted Odisha Congress.

Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik created a sand art paying tribute to the great leader.

Tributes to Ex-CM of #Odisha Shri JB Pattanaik on his death anniversary today. One of my SandArts. pic.twitter.com/L0mDmdhON2

— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) April 21, 2017

Known as one of the top intellectuals in the state, late Janaki Ballav Patnaik, who dominated the political scenario of Odisha for more than three decades, was born on January 3, 1927, at Rameswar in Khurda district. He breathed his last on April 21, 2015, at Tirupati.

He was three-time Chief Minister of Odisha. He also served as the Governor of Assam from 2009 till 2014.

JB Patnaik was the State Youth Congress President in 1950. He was elected to Lok Sabha in 1971 and served as a Deputy Minister of Defence in Indira Gandhi’s Cabinet from 1973 to 1975 and then became the Minister of State for Defence. He later moved to Odisha and became the Chief Minister.