Mon Nov 18 21:19:39 UTC 2024: ## Veteran Odisha BJP Leader Samir Dey Passes Away at 67

**Bhubaneswar, Odisha:** Senior BJP leader and former Odisha Minister Samir Dey passed away on Monday afternoon at the age of 67. Dey, who was admitted to Ashwini Hospital in Cuttack on November 1st, succumbed to multi-organ failure following a battle with pneumonia, a liver infection, high blood pressure, and diabetes. He had also undergone a kidney transplant two years prior.

A prominent figure in Odisha’s politics, Dey served as the state’s Higher Education Minister under Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik from 2004 to 2009, and also held the Urban Development and Higher Education portfolio from 2000 to 2004. He was a three-time MLA, representing Cuttack City from 1995 to 2004. He was instrumental in strengthening the BJP’s presence in Odisha during the 1990s.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, currently visiting Singapore, expressed his condolences via X (formerly Twitter) and announced that Dey’s last rites will be conducted with full state honours. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab also paid tribute, highlighting Dey’s contributions to Cuttack’s development and the higher education sector. National BJP leaders also mourned his loss, remembering his significant impact on the party’s growth in Odisha.

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