RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh State Assembly on Thursday was adjourned for the day after paying tributes to departed leaders – Deputy Speaker Manoj Singh Mandavi and former BJP MLA Deepak Patel on day one of the two-day special assembly session.

Speaker Dr Charan Das Mahant made the obituary reference on death of Deputy Speaker Manoj Singh Mandavi (Bhanupratappur) and former MLA Deepak Patel (Manendragarh).

Paying tributes, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said as Manoj Singh Mandavi a friend and young colleague has been lost. There was a huge potential in him but fate cut short his life at a young age.

Mandavi was a member in undivided Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He had held several posts in several House committees and as a minister in the newly formed government after the formation of Chhattisgarh, Baghel said.

The Chief Minister said Mandavi started his political career as a student leader. He reached the highest post of Deputy Speaker. He was open to discussion and kept keen interest in sports.

Baghel said he was also a religious person and had built a temple in his native village.

He was the voice of tribes and stood for their rights. His words and works will remain alive always, said the Chief Minister.

On Deepak Patel, Baghel said he was soft-spoken and stood for the people and their needs. He was having health problems and died at a young age.

Leader of Opposition Narayan Chandel said Manoj Singh Mandavi himself had doubts about running the House but he proved everyone wrong by being practical and a true politician.

Deepak had won the best MLA award as he had kept a tab on all the issues of the people. It was his efforts that today Chirmiri has a water supply system.

Cabinet ministers’ T S Singh Deo, Amarjeet Bhagat and Kawasi Lakhma, former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, Ajay Chandrakar (BJP), Keshav Chandra (Bahujan Samaj Party) and Mohan Markam (Congress) also paid tributes to the departed souls.

The Speaker after observing two minutes of silence to pay condolence, adjourned the House for the day.