Sivaji Patnaik, top CPM leader & ex-MP, dies at 92

Bhubaneswar: Veteran communist leader and former Bhubaneswar MP Sivaji Patnaik passed away at a city hospital on Monday afternoon. He was 92.
He was admitted to the hospital on Sunday after the potassium level in his blood dropped. Patnaik was one of the main founders of the Odisha unit of CPM. His body will be brought to the party’s state headquarters near Jaydev Vihar here at 10 am on Tuesday for paying tribute.
The Left leader is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.
“Comrade Sivaji Patnaik had a wish that his body will be donated to a hospital after his death. After consulting with our leaders family members, we have decided that we will donate his body to AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Tuesday afternoon,” said CPM state secretary Ali Kishore Patnaik.
Odisha governor Ganeshi Lal, chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik and other dignitaries condoled his death.