Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Jagannath Pahadia breathed his last on late Wednesday night at a private hospital in Gurugram due to the novel coronavirus. He was 89.
Pahadia served as the first Dalit Chief Minister of Rajasthan in 1980-81 and was also a former Governor of Haryana and Bihar. The senior Congress leader was chosen MP four times and later MLA in 1980, 1985, 1999 and 2003.
Pahadia, who was born in 1932 in Bharatpur district, discharged his duties as a Union Minister of State three times after being elected to the Lok Sabha from Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur and Bayana seats.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, “Saddened by the demise of former Rajasthan CM, Shri Jagannath Pahadia ji. In his long political and administrative career, he made noteworthy contributions to further social empowerment. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.”