Ex-Guj CM Keshubhai Passes Away; PM Says ‘He Groomed Many Like Me’

The former BJP leader served as CM of Gujarat in 1995 and then from 1998 to 2001. He was succeeded by Narendra Modi.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel (left) passed away on Thursday, 29 October, at a private hospital in Ahmedabad.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Narendra Modi)

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel passed away on Thursday, 29 October, at a private hospital in Ahmedabad. He was 92-years-old.

The former BJP leader served as chief minister of Gujarat in 1995 and then from 1998 to 2001. He was succeeded by Narendra Modi, who remained the CM of Gujarat till he became prime minister in 2014.

Dr Akshay Kiledar of the Sterling Hospital said that Patel was brought to the hospital after a sudden cardiac arrest.

“We tried to revive him but couldn’t after he was brought to the hospital in an unconscious state, following sudden cardiac arrest. He was declared dead at 11:55 am. He didn’t die due to COVID-19,” Kiledar said.

‘He Groomed Karyakartas Like Me’: PM Modi Condoles Demise

PM Modi took to Twitter to condole the demise of Patel, and said that he was an outstanding leader who cared for every section of society.

“Our beloved and respected Keshubhai has passed away… I am deeply pained and saddened. He was an outstanding leader who cared for every section of society. His life was devoted towards the progress of Gujarat and the empowerment of every Gujarati,” PM Modi tweeted.

“Keshubhai travelled across the length and breadth of Gujarat to strengthen the Jana Sangh and BJP. He resisted the Emergency tooth and nail. Issues of farmer welfare were closest to his heart. Be it as MLA, MP, Minister or CM, he ensured many farmer friendly measures were passed,” PM Modi said.

“Keshubhai mentored and groomed many younger Karyakartas including me. Everyone loved his affable nature. His demise is an irreparable loss. We are all grieving today. My thoughts are with his family and well-wishers. Spoke to his son Bharat and expressed condolences. Om Shanti,” he added.

Keshubhai: From RSS Pracharak to Gujarat CM

Patel joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1945 as a ‘pracharak' and later started his political career as a worker for the Jan Sangh. He was one of the founding members of the Jan Sangh in the 1960s.

After 2002, Patel was also a Rajya Sabha MP till 2008. He was also a member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly six times.

According to News18, he quit the BJP in 2012 and floated his own political party, the Gujarat Parivartan Party, which was later merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in February 2014.

In his last election, he was elected from the Visavadar Assembly seat in 2012 but later resigned in 2014 due to ill health.

(With inputs fron News18.)