Veteran BJD leader and 10-time MLA V Sugnana Kumari Deo, who belonged to the royal family of Khallikote, passed away during treatment at a private hospital in Chennai on Saturday at the age of 87. She breathed her last at the hospital at 12.44 am. Deo was first elected to the Odisha Assembly in 1963 and has won a total of 10 times in her political career from Khallikote and Kabisuryanagar constituencies. She has a special identity and honour as the queen of Khallikote. Soon after the news of her illness broke, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik rushed to the hospital in Chennai on Friday and inquired about her health condition. Deo was first elected to the State Assembly in 1963 on Congress ticket. She won the election and became MLA again from 1974-1977 as an Utkal Congress leader. She became the MLA of Khallikote for the third time from 1977-1980 with ticket from Janata Dal. She became a member of the Legislative Assembly for the fourth time with the same party from 1985-1990. She was elected from Khallikote for the fifth time in 1990-95. She also won the subsequent election from Janta Dal in 1995-2000. She was elected for two terms from 2009-2014 and 2014-2019 from Kabisuryanagar on BJD tickets. Apart from being a politician, Deo has also a special identity as a social worker. Condolences poured in from all quarters following the demise of Deo, who was one of the longest-serving MLAs. CM Naveen Patnaik, Governor Raghubar Das and leaders cutting across party lines expressed their deepest condolences on the sad demise of Deo. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that Odisha lost an outspoken leader. BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda wrote her people adored her, colleagues respected and feared her. She was a role model, was always very kind, & encouraged & reassured him during his difficult times.