Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar Dies in Mumbai

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar died in Mumbai on Thursday, 31 May after a brief illness, an official said. He was 67.

The senior BJP leader was a three-term MP and a former president of the Maharashtra party unit.

The legislator first became an MLA in 1978.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condoled Fundkar's demise, and recalled his late cabinet colleague's contribution to the party and farmers' development.

PM Modi and party president Amit Shah also took to Twitter to mourn Fundkar’s death.

Saddened by the demise of Maharashtra’s Agriculture Minister Shri Pandurang Fundkar. He made an invaluable contribution towards building the BJP in Maharashtra. He was also at the forefront of serving the farmers of the state. My thoughts are with his family and supporters.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2018

Pained to know about the sudden demise of Shri Pandurang Fundkar ji,
the Agriculture Minister of Maharashtra. He was a people’s leader & three time MP from Akola. Bhausaheb Fundkar worked tirelessly to spread BJP's reach in Maharashtra, my condolences with his family & followers.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 31, 2018

State BJP chief Raosaheb Danve said Fundkar was a farmers' leader and did justice to the portfolio he held, after being inducted in the Fadnavis ministry in July 2016.