BHUBANESWAR: Prominent Dalit leader, former Odisha minister and ex-MP Laxman Mallick passed away at a private hospital here today following illness, family sources said.
He was 88 and survived by wife, a son and three daughters.
Mallick was elected to the first legislative Assembly in Odisha in 1952 from Cuttack Rural segment and subsequently became member of the House four times in 1961, 1971 and 1974.
After being a minister in the early 70s, Mallick was also elected to the Lok Sabha twice in 1980 and 1984 as a Congress candidate.
People from different walks of life mourned his death and paid homage to Mallick.