CM Majhi pays tribute to former Odisha CM Nandini Satpathy
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On her death anniversary, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paused to honour a woman who reshaped the state's political and social landscape — Nandini Satpathy, Odisha's first and only woman Chief Minister, remembered on Tuesday, 4 August 2026.
Majhi's tribute, posted in Odia, reads: 'ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପୂର୍ବତନ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ନନ୍ଦିନୀ ଶତପଥୀଙ୍କ ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧ ବାର୍ଷିକୀରେ ବିନମ୍ର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି' — 'Humble tribute on the death anniversary of former Odisha Chief Minister Nandini Satpathy.' He added that her contributions to social progress and women's empowerment 'will always be remembered.'
Nandini Satpathy: Odisha's trailblazing Chief Minister
Nandini Satpathy served as Chief Minister of Odisha twice — from 1972 to 1973 and again from 1974 to 1976 — making her the state's first woman to hold the office. A Congress leader, poet, and writer of distinction, she was known for her sharp intellect and commitment to the welfare of marginalised communities and women. Her tenure left a lasting imprint on Odisha's social policy framework.
A cross-party moment of remembrance
That a BJP Chief Minister publicly honours a Congress-era leader speaks to Satpathy's stature beyond partisan lines. Majhi's gesture underscores a broader recognition in Odisha's political culture that Satpathy's legacy — particularly her advocacy for women's rights at a time when such causes had little institutional backing — transcends party affiliation. It is a rare and pointed act of bipartisan respect.