Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon, who was one of the founder members of the BJP’s parent organisation Jan Sangh, died after suffering a heart attack at a government hospital here on Tuesday, an official said. He was 90.
Mr. Tandon breathed his last at the state-run Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Hospital where admitted this morning after he complained of uneasiness, Governor’s secretary, Surendra Kumar Jasiwal, told PTI. Mr. Tandon was kept in the hospital’s critical care unit in view of his serious condition, he added.
The Governor suffered a heart attack, the hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr. Vivek Choudhary, said.
Chief Minister Raman Singh, who visited the hospital earlier on getting the news of Mr. Tandon’s illness, announced a seven-day state mourning in view of the Governor’s demise.
Independence Day will be observed in a traditional manner on Wednesday and there will be no award and cultural ceremonies, the CMO said in an official release.
Mr. Tandon’s body will be taken to Raj Bhawan, where it will be kept for people to pay their respects at 5 pm. The body will be taken later to Mr. Tandon’s native place in Punjab.
In his condolence message, the chief minister said that as Governor, Mr. Tandon offered his valuable services to Chhattisgarh for around four years. “He was like a father figure to me,” Mr. Singh said.
Mr. Tandon had assumed the office of Governor in Chhattisgarh on July 2014.
During his long political career, he served on various posts, including as deputy chief minister of Punjab.The six-time MLA was also jailed from 1975 to 1977 during Emergency.