Bhubaneswar: Former minister and noted writer Jagannath Mallick passed away after an ace yearned illness at a private hospital here the last night here. He was 80.

Born at Mahantypatana in Jajpur locale, Mallick had been elected to the State Assembly four times and to Parliament once.

He was elected to the Assembly for the first time in 1971 on Utkal Congress ticket and had held the Agriculture portfolio in 1979. The prepared lawmaker was chosen to the thirteenth Lok Sabha in 1999.

Apart from politics, Mallick was also a prolific writer. Among the books written by him are Kaibarta Kanya, Jarasandha, Bhabitabya, Ramayan Darshan, Matira Mruttika and Jhadar Eagle.