Gopinath Munde: Maharashtra BJP Loses It’s Architect

Union rural development minister Gopinath Munde passed away today following a car crash in Delhi. Munde’s car met with an accident early morning today while going to the airport. Munde had to catch a flight to Mumbai.

According to senior BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari and Dr Harshvardhan, Munde’s car collided with an Indica at Lodhi Road near veteran leader Lal Krishna Advani’s residence. His car was hit at the side Munde was sitting.

Munde was a diabetic who, after the collision, fell from his vehicle. He drank water after the crash and asked his security officer and driver, only people present other than him in the car, to drive him to the hospital.

On the way to the hospital, he lost his consciousness.

According to the official statement by spokesperson of AIIMS trauma Centre Dr Amit Gupta, Munde did not have pulse, blood pressure, and cardiac activity. His breathing had also stopped. The doctors gave him CPR for 50 minutes for starting his heart, failing which, Munde was declared dead at 7.20 AM.

The body has been transferred to the mortuary for postmortem. Munde suffered injuries to head and chest. However, there was no external injury on the body according to the doctor and the exact cause of death will be ascertained only after the post mortem report comes out.

The body of Munde will be kept in party headquarters at 11 Ashoka Road for last visit by the friends and party members. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting party headquarters shortly. He tweeted:

Extremely saddened & shocked by the demise of my friend & colleague Gopinath Munde ji. His demise is a major loss for the Nation & the Govt.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 3, 2014

 

Gopinath Munde ji was a true mass leader. Hailing from backward sections of society, he rose to great heights & tirelessly served people.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 3, 2014

 

My tributes to a dynamic leader whose premature demise leaves a void hard to fill.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 3, 2014

 

Condolences to Munde ji’s family. We stand by them in this hour of grief.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 3, 2014

 

The driver of the Indica, responsible for the crash, has been nabbed by the police. He is currently being inquired. Forensic experts have reached the spot of the fatal accident.

Munde was brother-in-law of Late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. He was called architect of Maharshtra BJP and was a constant learner. He had joined politics when he met Mahajan during his college days. Munde had been 5 times MLA an 2 times MP. He had never lost an election.

Munde was sworn in as the deputy chief minister of Maharastra when Manohar Joshi-led government took over the reins of the state on 14 March 1995. His complex political strategies led to BJP’s win in Maharashtra and made the party a mass representation party in the state.

He was the only leader to have the guts to take NCP heavy weight Sarad Pawar head on.

Munde was panchayati raj and drinking and sanitation minister too apart from holding rural development ministry. Munde’s name was doing rounds for the chief minister candidacy of Maharashtra from BJP’s side due to his political prowess. He was going to Mumbai for his victory rally there.

Munde’s family will be reaching Delhi shortly. His body will be transported by special aircraft to Beed, his home district, via Latur airport at around 2.30 PM today. He will be cremated tomorrow.