The veteran leader of Congress, Motilal Vora, passed away in Delhi on Monday, a day after celebrating his 93rd birthday.
Vora, who had recovered from Covid-19 in October, was admitted to the Delhi Escorts Hospital after he complained of shortness of breath on December 19.
A journalist by profession, he worked with the Navbharat Times as a correspondent in Bombay (now Mumbai), then served at Navbharat in Nagpur and Raipur and later at Nagpur Times in Nagpur.
Having held one of the most important organizational treasurer positions of the All India Congressional Committee (AICC) for nearly two decades, Vora was appointed general secretary in charge of administration in 2018.
It was then that another senior leader, Ahmed Patel, assumed the position of treasurer of the AICC and held the position until his death on November 25 this year. He died of post-Covid complications at a Gurugram hospital.
In a party shakeup carried out by Congress President Sonia Gandhi in September this year, Vora was not given any party responsibility in view of her advanced age.
A former Prime Minister of Madhya Pradesh and former Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Vora, a loyalist to the Gandhi family, was known for his relationships across the political spectrum.
He often recalled his “bumpy” car trip that led him to become more familiar with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during a tour from Lucknow to a remote village in the state during his tenure as governor of Uttar Pradesh from 1993 to 1996.
Mayawati, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, made it a point to greet the veteran congressional leader every time she saw him at the Rajya Sabha. It was Vora who recommended the removal of Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav from the post of Prime Minister on June 3, 1995, a day after the infamous “guest house” episode.
Armed SP leaders and workers attempted to attack Mayawati, who locked herself in a room in an attempt to escape the attack.
On the same day, Mayawati was sworn in as Prime Minister with the external support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal.
A prime minister of Madhya Pradesh for two terms – first from 1985 to 1988 and then in 1989, Vora also served as union health minister in the cabinet of then-prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988-89. He retired as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Chhattisgarh in April this year.
During his four terms at the Rajya Sabha, Vora was appreciated for his attendance and participation.
Congressional leaders often cited Vora’s advice on discretion, making him ideal for the post of treasurer of the AICC. “No one should be able to find any paper in their office when they leave for the day,” he once told a young congressional official.
As treasurer of the AICC, Vora, in addition to managing the finances of the grand party, would also decide to allocate the rooms at the party headquarters at 24 Delhi, Akbar Road.
It was well known in party circles that Vora strictly guarded party officials in the congressional office.
Political leaders who crossed party lines mourned his death.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by his death and remembered him as a leader with vast administrative and organizational experience.
“Shri Motilal Vora Ji was one of the highest ranking congressional leaders, who had vast administrative and organizational experience in a political career that spanned decades. Saddened by his passing. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti, ”he tweeted.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said he was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. “Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much. My love and condolences to his family and friends, ”he tweeted.
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