CM Majhi mourns former Patana MLA Kanhu Charan Naek

Key Takeaways

Kanhu Charan Naek , former MLA from Patana constituency in Kendujhar district , has passed away.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the death on 22 October 2026 .

Majhi offered condolences to Naek's bereaved family and prayed to Lord Jagannath for the peace of the departed soul.

The tribute was posted in Odia on X, closing with the traditional invocation Om Shanti .

Kendujhar , also known as Keonjhar, is a district in northern Odisha with significant political and mineral importance.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief on Thursday, 22 October 2026, over the passing of Kanhu Charan Naek, former legislator from the Patana constituency in Kendujhar district — invoking the blessings of Lord Jagannath for the departed soul.

Writing in Odia, Chief Minister Majhi said he was 'extremely saddened' upon learning of the death of Naek, a former MLA from Patana (Kendujhar). He extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved family and offered a prayer to Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath — 'Lord Jagannath' — for the peace of the departed soul, closing with the traditional invocation 'Om Shanti'.

A legislator from Kendujhar's Patana seat

Kanhu Charan Naek served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Patana constituency in Kendujhar, a district in northern Odisha also widely known as Keonjhar. The district, rich in mineral resources, has historically been a significant political battleground in the state. Naek's passing marks the loss of a public figure whose work touched the residents of Patana at the grassroots level.

A standard of public grief, rooted in Odia tradition

Indian chief ministers routinely issue public condolence messages when former legislators pass away, but Majhi's choice to invoke Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath — the presiding deity of Odisha and a deeply unifying cultural symbol across the state — gives the tribute a distinctly Odia character. The closing Om Shanti reflects a tradition of dignified public mourning that transcends political lines.

Point of View

But the medium — a direct social media post in the regional language — reflects a shift toward more personalised, constituent-facing political communication. Majhi's invocation of Lord Jagannath is also a deliberate cultural signal: in Odisha's political landscape, aligning public acts of grief with the state's most revered deity reinforces both regional identity and broad-based appeal. The passing of a constituency-level legislator like Naek, while not a top-tier political event, serves as a reminder that the BJP's consolidation in Odisha rests on nurturing relationships at the local legislative level. How other parties respond — or whether they do — will be a small but telling indicator of political temperatures in Kendujhar.

NationPress

23 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kanhu Charan Naek?

Kanhu Charan Naek was a former Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Patana constituency in Kendujhar district, northern Odisha.

Why did Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi post a condolence message?

CM Mohan Charan Majhi posted to express deep grief over the passing of former Patana MLA Kanhu Charan Naek, offering condolences to his family and praying for the peace of his soul.

Where is Patana constituency located?

Patana is a legislative constituency in Kendujhar district, also known as Keonjhar, situated in northern Odisha.

What did CM Majhi say in his tribute post?

CM Majhi said he was 'extremely saddened' by the death, extended condolences to the bereaved family, and prayed to Lord Jagannath for the departed soul, closing with 'Om Shanti'.

What is the significance of invoking Lord Jagannath in a condolence message in Odisha?

Lord Jagannath is the presiding deity of Odisha and a deeply unifying cultural symbol across the state. Invoking his name in a condolence message is a traditional expression of Odia identity and spiritual respect for the departed.