Bhubaneswar, Feb. 10 -- Veteran BJD leader and 10-time MLA V Sugnana Kumari Deo, who belonged to the royal family of Khallikote, passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai on Saturday. She was 87.

She breathed her last at the hospital at 12.44 am.

Deo was first elected to the Odisha Assembly in 1963 and has won a total of 10 times in her political career from Khallikote and Kabisuryanagar constituencies. She belongs to the royal family of Khallikote. She has a special identity and honour as the queen of Khallikote. She was an eight time MLA from Khallikote and two times MLA from Kabisuryanagar.

Soon after the news of her illness broke, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had rushed to a private hospital in Chenna...