CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on May 24

THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses deep grief at the death of a veteran leader of the Party, Sivaji Patnaik. Patnaik was a former member of the Central Committee of the Party and also a former secretary of its Odisha state committee. He died on May 23, 2022. He was 92 years old.

Born in a family of freedom fighters, Sivaji Patnaik joined the student movement and the undivided Communist Party at a very young age and very soon was elected to the state executive council of the CPI. In 1964 when the Party split, he played a crucial role in the formation of the CPI(M).  He served as the secretary of the Party state committee from 1972 to 1990. He was elected to the Central Committee at the 10th Congress of the Party in 1978 and continued till 1989.

He worked both in the kisan movement and also the trade union movement in the state. When the CITU was formed in Odisha he was elected as its first president.

Elected on three different occasions to the Lok Sabha from the Bhubaneswar seat he was widely respected for his honesty and integrity.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife Pratibha, three sons, daughter and other members of the family.

THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions, in a statement issued on May 24, expressed grief at the passing away of Comrade Sivaji Patnaik, veteran leader of the working class movement, Odisha in particular, at Bhubaneswar on May 23, 2022 at the age of 92 years.

He joined the student movement in his early youth and in that process became a frontline organiser and leader of the communist movement. He contributed immensely to the building of both kisan and trade union movement in Odisha. He was elected the president of Odisha state committee of CITU at its founding conference in 1970 and played a leading role in building unity of the trade union movement and united struggles in the state across various sectors.

His leadership role in resisting the privatisation moves in NALCO will be ever remembered.

Com Patnaik was also a renowned parliamentarian and championed the cause of the toiling people in the Lok Sabha having been elected on three occasions from Bhubaneswar.

CITU mourns the death of Comrade Sivaji Patnaik, conveys its heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family members and comrades and pays homage of respect to his memory and signal contributions to the cause of toiling people. Red Salute, Comrade Sivaji Patnaik!