Lagatar24 Desk
Bhubaneswar, Dec 24: Former Odisha Finance Minister Ramakrushna Pattnaik passed away at his residence on Friday. The 81 year old senior leader died around 9.30 am. He was unwell for the past few days, his daughter Anita Subhadarshini informed.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described him as a seasoned politician and a capable administrator.
“He was a devoted follower of Biju Patnaik and made significant contributions to the overall development of Ganjam district,” said the Chief Minister Condoling Pattnaik’s death.
Ramakrushna Pattnaik, a six-term legislator from the Kodala constituency in Ganjam district, held key portfolios as a Minister, including finance. From 1996 to 1997, he was also the Assembly’s Leader of the Opposition.
He was also known as the ‘Ganjam Tiger’ and served as a Minister in the Cabinet of Biju from 1990 to 1995 before becoming Finance Minister in Naveen Patnaik’s Cabinet in 2000.
In 2002 he left the BJD to join the Congress due to disagreements with Chief Minister and party president Naveen Patnaik.
