Former Odisha Speaker Sarat Kar passes away

Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Assembly Speaker Sarat Kumar Kar on Monday passed away at the age of 81.

He was admitted at a private hospital after being tested positive for COVID-19.

Sarat Kar, a veteran leader and eminent writer, was elected to the State Legislative Assembly thrice from Mahanga in Kendrapara district.

Born in Cuttack district in the year 1939, Kar was one of the key associates of late Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.

The three-time former MLA was the minister in Biswanath Das’ cabinet in 1971. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Cuttack on Janata Party ticket in 1977.

Kar was the Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly from the year 2000 to 2004.

Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, PCC president Niranjan Patnaik and several other political leaders condoled the death of Kar.

“His contributions to the socio-political & cultural life of Odisha will be remembered forever,” said the Governor.