Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party founder Ram Vilas Paswan passed away on Thursday evening.

He had been hospitalised for the last few weeks and had recently undergone a heart surgery at Delhi’s Fortis Hospital “due to the situation that had suddenly emerged,” his son Chirag Paswan had tweeted earlier.

Paswan had been active in politics for more than five decades and is one of the country’s most noted Dalit leaders.

After the news broke out twitter was flooded with tributes for the departed leader. Among the first to tweet was President Ram Nath Kovind, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted his condolences.

I am saddened beyond words. There is a void in our nation that will perhaps never be filled. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji’s demise is a personal loss. I have lost a friend, valued colleague and someone who was extremely passionate to ensure every poor person leads a life of dignity. pic.twitter.com/2UUuPBjBrj

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2020