BHUBANESWAR, Feb. 11 -- Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader V Sugnana Kumari Deo passed away on Saturday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai. She was 87.
Deo, who belonged to the royal family of Khallikote died at 12.44 am, said family sources.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had rushed to the hospital and inquired about her health condition on Friday evening.
The 'Khallikote Queen' was first elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 1963 and won a total of 10 times in her long political career from the Khallikote and Kabisuryanagar constituencies. She won eigh times from Khallikote and two times from Kabisuryanagar.
Born in Chennai on August 5, 1937, she was elected in 1963, 1974, 1977, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2004, ...