Seven-time Biju Janata Dal MLA Pradeep Maharathy has died days after testing positive for COVID-19. Maharathy passed away at a private hospital in the early hours of Sunday.
65-year-old Maharathy represented Pipili constituency in Puri district of Odisha.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took to Twitter to condole his death. Writing in Odia, Patnaik wrote, “I am shocked to learn of the death of popular politician, MLA Pradeep Maharathi. In fact, he was a leader of the people and a close ally of Biju Babu. He was awarded the Odisha Krishi Karman Award for his good work as a minister. In his absence, the state and @bjd_odisha lost competent leadership.”
He wrote in his subsequent tweet, “He was a favorite of the people of Pipili constituency for his extraordinary organizational skills and pro-people work. His contribution to the development of Odisha for many years will always be remembered by him. I extend my condolences to the bereaved family and wish them well in their future endeavors.”
ଅସାଧାରଣ ସାଙ୍ଗଠନିକ ଦକ୍ଷତା ଲୋକାଭିମୁଖୀ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ସେ ପିପିଲି ନିର୍ବାଚନ ମଣ୍ଡଳୀବାସୀଙ୍କ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରିୟ ଥିଲେ। ଦୀର୍ଘବର୍ଷ ଧରି ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିକାଶରେ ତାଙ୍କ ଯୋଗଦାନ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସର୍ବଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ କରି ରଖିବ। ଏପରି ଦୁଃଖଦ ସମୟରେ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି।
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 4, 2020
Maharathy had tested positive for COVID-19 on 14 September, but he was discharged from the hospital after recovering. He had to be admitted to the hospital again after his condition worsened before being placed on a ventilator on Friday.
He’s survived by wife Prativa, son Rudra Pratap and daughter Pallavi.
