Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday expressed deep grief over the demise of former Odisha Minister and senior BJP leader, Samir Dey.

In a post on X, Union Minister Pradhan, who hails from Odisha, said, “I am saddened to hear the demise of former Minister of Odisha and senior BJP leader, Samir Dey.” 

The Union Minister also recalled Dey’s contribution to popularise the saffron party in the State and said, “He (Dey) played a major role in popularizing our party's nationalist views in Cuttack city during the initial phase of BJP’s rising in coastal Odisha,”.

“I express my condolences to the bereaved family. May the departed soul rest in peace. Om Shanti!” he added. 

Former Minister and three-time MLA Samir Dey passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Cuttack on Monday. He was 67.

Dey began his political career with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He had served as Minister of Higher Education in Naveen Patnaik Cabinet from 2004-09. He had earlier served as the Minister of Urban Development in First Naveen Patnaik ministry from 2000-04.

Dey represented Cuttack City thrice in a row - 1995, 2000, 2004 in the Odisha Legislative Assembly. He was also elected as the president of the Football Association of Odisha (FAO) in June this year.

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