Former Odisha Speaker Sarat Kar Passes Away

Bhubaneswar: Sarat Kar, former speaker of Odisha Assembly passed away at a private hospital on Monday. He was 81.

Confirming the news, Sarat Kar’s son Suman informed that his father was ill for the past few days and breathed his last at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar today.

As per reports, Sarat Kar had recently tested positive for COVID-19 and was undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Born in 1939 in Cuttack district, Sarat Kar was elected to Odisha Legislative Assembly thrice from 1971-74, 1990-95 and 2000-2004 from Mahanga constituency.

He was elected as a Janata Party (Lok Dal) MP in 1977 from Cuttack after defeating Congress stalwart and the then sitting Union Minister, JB Patnaik. He was the speaker of the 12th Assembly from 10 March 2000 to 21 May 2004.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the demise of Sarat Kar.

ଓଡ଼ିଶା ବିଧାନସଭାର ପୂର୍ବତନ ବାଚସ୍ପତି ଶରତ କୁମାର କରଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଜନପ୍ରତିନିଧି ଭାବେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିକାଶ ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କର ଉଦ୍ୟମ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇ ରହିବ। ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି।

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 12, 2020

Apart from Patnaik, several other leaders cutting across party lines paid their tributes to the departed soul.

Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Sarat Kar, former Speaker of Odisha Assembly. A contemporary & friend of my parents, he had held many other important public posts. He always encouraged & supported me. Last January he had surprised me, dropping by on my birthday
Om Shanti🙏 pic.twitter.com/XKreneoyGu

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) October 12, 2020