Lucknow: Madhya Pradesh governor Lalji Tandon, a veteran political figure in Uttar Pradesh where he had served as a cabinet minister, died at a hospital early on Tuesday.
The 85-year-old was admitted to the hospital on June 11 due to breathing problems, fever and difficulty in urination.
He died at 5:35 am in Medanata Hospital, according to his son Ashutosh Tandon, a UP cabinet minister.
Tandon is survived by his wife and three sons.
His body will be kept at his official residence in Hazratganj and later at his Sindhi Tola residence in Chowk to allow people to pay their last respects.
The last journey will start at 4 pm for the Gulala Ghat, where his last rites will be performed later in the day, Ashutosh Tandon said in a statement.
Condoling the family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tandon will be remembered for his untiring efforts to serve the society.
In a series of tweets, Modi recalled that Lalji Tandon played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and BSP president Mayawati expressed grief over Tandon’s death.
The UP government has announced three days mourning as a mark of respect to Lalji Tandon, a former cabinet minister, a government spokesman said.
Belonging to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani era of BJP leaders, Lalji Tandon proved himself as an able administrator during his decades-long political career in Uttar Pradesh.
A former Lok Sabha MP, he was later given gubernatorial responsibility.
He took oath as Madhya Pradesh’s governor on July 29, 2019, under the Congress’s regime, after serving in the same post in Bihar for nearly 11 months.