Pramod Mahajan passes away

Mumbai: After battling for life for 12 days, BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan died of multiple organ failure in Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital on Wednesday afternoon. He was on life support systems since then, undergoing three major surgeries.

Mahajan died at 1610 hrs (IST) of several complications like respiratory system failure and extensive trauma, Dr Pramod Lele of Hinduja Hospital announced.

The 56-year-old BJP general secretary is survived by his wife Rekha, son Rahul and daughter Poonam.

The first indication that Mahajan’s condition had worsened and he might not survive was available when a large number of political leaders, including Sushma Swaraj of BJP and Shiv Sena’s Bal Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray and Thackeray’s daughter-in-law Smita Thackeray visited the hospital in forenoon. A large number of BJP workers also gathered outside the hospital.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani and party president Rajnath Singh cut short their yatras and flew to Mumbai. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other party leaders were rushing to Mumbai.

A pall of gloom descended on BJP central headquarters at 11 Ashoka Road in New Delhi where the party flag was lowered at half mast and party leaders made a beeline to the party office.

A photograph of Mahajan was immediately placed in the main hall of the building where the former Union Minister had addressed numerous news conferences and attended several meetings.

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