How did George Tirkey die? The former Odisha MLA was a firebrand tribal leader

Prominent trade union leader and former Odisha MLA George Tirkey died early on Saturday.

Tirkey (67), who was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bhubaneswar for the last three months due to several health issues, died around 1 am, according to his family members.

Jagdish Agarwal, an aide of the deceased leader, said Tirkey was ailing for a long time, and was shifted to Bhubaneswar from Birmitrapur after his health condition worsoned.

“Tirkey was suffering from liver complications and his health condition kept on deteriorating to largely keep him confined to bed over the past several months,” Agarwal had been quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.

His last rites will be performed at his ancestral village Jhunmur, in Sundergarh district.

A popular tribal leader,  Tirkey was elected to the assembly four times—1995, 2000, 2009, and 2014—from Biramitrapur assembly segment in Sundergarh district. He was elected twice on a JMM ticket, and once each as an Independent candidate and a nominee of Samata Kranti Dal, founded by him. 

Former chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik expressed condolences over Tirkey's demise.

In a post on X, he said, "I am deeply saddened to know about the demise of senior politician and former MLA of Sundergarh's Biramitrapur, George Tirkey. His lifelong contribution to public service is unparalleled. His work for the welfare of the people will always be remembered. I pray for eternal peace to his departed soul and express my condolences to the bereaved family members."

Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo said, "Deeply saddened by the passing of George Tirkey ji, former MLA from Biramitrapur and a respected voice from Sundergarh. His decades of public service -- across four terms in the Odisha Assembly -- reflected a deep commitment to tribal rights, grassroots leadership, and principled politics. Odisha has lost a dedicated son of the soil. May Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath bless his soul and give strength to his family and admirers in this hour of grief."