Former Odisha MP dead

Bhubaneswar : Former Rajya Sabha member Baishnab Charan Parida died at a private hospital here on Thursday. He was 77.

He was diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment at the hospital, family sources said.

Born in Srirampur in Jajpur district on February 15, 1941, Parida was elected to the Rajya Sabha in July 2010 as a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) nominee.

He was the state Samajwadi Party president from 1999 to 2008.

The politician, writer and social activist was spearheading the movement for Odia language in the state.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Niranjan Patnaik condoled Parida's death.