Former Ahmednagar MP Dilip Gandhi dies of Covid at 69

Former Union minister Dilip Gandhi, who is also a former MP from Ahmednagar, died of Covid-19 at a private hospital in New Delhi early on Wednesday. He was 69. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

Gandhi was in Delhi for some personal work. On Tuesday, he had tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to a private hospital, where he was put on ventilator support. He died at 3 am on Wednesday, said BJP leaders.

Gandhi had represented the Ahmednagar seat in Lok Sabha for three consecutive terms. He was first elected in 1999. He served as minister for state in the Union Shipping Ministry in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government.

BJP leaders said it was because of Gandhi that the party is ruling in the Ahmednagar civic body after tying up with an unlikely ally, NCP. “Gandhi took the initiative in forging an alliance with the NCP and keeping the Shiv Sena away,” said a BJP leader.

BJP leader Uma Khapre said, “Gandhi played a major role in the development of Ahmednagar. It was during his tenure that Ahmednagar saw rapid development. In his death, the party has lost a key leader from Nagar district”

Shiv Sena corporator Balasaheb Borate said, “Gandhi was a popular leader and had friends in all parties. That is the reason why he could ensure BJP rule in the civic body with the help of NCP, which has an alliance with the Sena at state level.”