Odisha: Maharaja of Kalahandi Udit Pratap Deo passes away

Bhubaneswar: The Maharaja of erstwhile princely state of Odisha’s Kalahandi Udit Pratap  Deo passed away this evening here today. He was 71.

He was suffering from protracted illness and admitted to a private hospital here.

As per hospital sources, he was admitted to the private healthcare facility four days ago.

He passed away at around 5.45 pm.

Deo was coronated as the 32nd king of Kalahandi in 2001.

He was elected to the Odisha assembly on a Swatantra Party ticket in 1974 from Junagarh seat.

Deo had in 2014 joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with his wife Padma Manjari Devi.

Political leaders across party lines condoled the demise of the royal scion.