Former Union Minister Dilip Gandhi, who is also a former Ahmednagar MP, died of Covid-19 at a private hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday morning. He was 69 years old. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
Gandhi was in Delhi for personal work. On Tuesday, he tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to a private hospital, where he was placed on ventilation. He died at 3 a.m. Wednesday, BJP leaders said.
Gandhi had represented Ahmednagar’s headquarters in Lok Sabha for three consecutive terms. He was first elected in 1999. He served as minister of state in the Union Ministry of Transport in the government led by Atal Bihari Vajapyee.
BJP leaders said it was because of Gandhi that the party rules in Ahmednagar’s civic body after linking up with an unlikely ally, the NCP. “Gandhi took the initiative to forge an alliance with the NCP and keep Shiv Sena away,” said a BJP leader.
BJP leader Uma Khapre said: “Gandhi played an important role in the development of Ahmednagar. It was during his tenure that Ahmednagar saw rapid development. In his death, the party lost a key leader of the Nagar district. “
Shiv Sena’s corporate Balasaheb Borate said: “Gandhi was a popular leader and had friends in all parties. That is the reason why he was able to ensure that the BJP governs in the civic body with the help of the NCP, which has an alliance with the Sena at the state level ”.
.
