India, Jan. 7 -- Former Pune Member of Parliament, Union minister of state for railways, and veteran sports administrator Suresh Kalmadi passed away early Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 81.

Kalmadi, who also served as president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), was a prominent Congress leader and represented the Pune Lok Sabha constituency three times, in addition to being elected to the Rajya Sabha on three occasions.

He is survived by his wife, son, two daughters, and grandchildren. His last rites were performed later in the day at the Vaikunth Crematorium in Pune.

Born in Madras (now Chennai) and educated in Pune, Kalmadi studied at St Vincent's School and later at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. H...