JB is no more Veteran Congress leader, threetime Odisha CM and former Assam governor Janaki Ballav Patnaik passed away on Tuesday at Tirupati

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The Congress stalwart became chief minister of Odisha in 1980 and continued in office till 1989. He bounced back to power in 1995 and remained CM till 1999.

Mr Patnaik’s period as CM was described as a ‘golden age’ by his loyalists who said the state made huge progress during his rule

A great devotee of Lord Jagannath, former Odisha Chief Minister J. B. Patnaik himself chanted Vishnu Sahas ranam while having darshan of Lord Balaji at Tirupati temple hours before he breathed his last at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences.

“While visiting Tirupati temple on Monday evening, my father was chanting Vishnu Sahas ranam on his own and had a darshan of the Lord. He is a great devotee of Lord Vishnu,” Patnaik's elder daughter Dr Sudatta Patnaik said. After returning from the temple he had discussion with Sanskrit scholars on the Jagannath cult, Sudatta said.

The former Odisha chief minister passed away during the early hours of Tuesday at Tirupati. The 89-year-old was in Tirupati to participate in a convocation ceremony scheduled for Tuesday at Tirupati.

He was rushed to a private hospital in Tirupati when complained about chest pain around 11 pm on Monday. He passed away around 3 am on Tuesday.

His body was shifted to Bhubaneswar in a special flight from Renigunta.

The Congress stalwart became chief minister in 1980 and continued in office till 1989. He bounced back to power in 1995 and remained chief minister till 1999.

Mr Patnaik’s period as chief minister was described as a ‘golden age’ by his loyalists who said the state made all round progress during 14 years of his rule.

He was, however, criticised for several scandals during his tenure, including the infamous Ch habi rani murder case of mid 80s.

Patnaik’s cremation is scheduled to be held in Puri on Wednesday, family sources said.