Former union minister and RLD chief Ajit Singh dies of COVID-19

NEW DELHI: Former Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh died on Thursday while battling Covid.

Ajit Singh, son of former prime minister Charan Singh, was diagnosed with Covid on April 20, his son Jayant Chaudhary informed via Twiiter. "He battled his condition till the very end and breathed his last today morning," Jayant informed.

The 82-year-old veteran leader was admitted at a Gurgaon hospital, his family said.

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— Jayant Chaudhary (@jayantrld) May 6, 2021

Ajit Singh, an IIT alumni, was a seven-time MP and Union Minister in the governments of VP Singh, PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.

He quit the computer industry to return to India and join politics. He represented the family's pocket borough of Baghpat in the Lower House of Parliament. His party, RLD, wields influence in Jat-dominated western Uttar Pradesh.

Ajit Singh became a Rajya Sabha member in 1986. He allied with major parties including the BJP, Congress and Samajwadi Party during his political journey. Ajit Singh formed the RLD and joined the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government as agriculture minister in 2001. He was part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government till May 2003. He joined the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) later after forging an alliance with the Congress for assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Expressing grief,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was always dedicated to the welfare of farmers and deftly handled many responsibilities at the Centre. “The death of former Union Minister Chaudhary Ajit Singhji is extremely sad. He was always devoted to the interests of farmers. He efficiently discharged the responsibilities of several departments at the Centre. My condolences to his family and fans in this hour of mourning. om Shanti!” the PM tweeted.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condoled the death of Singh. “The news of the untimely demise of RLD chief Ajit Singhji is sad. My condolences to his family and loved ones,” he tweeted. BJP president J P Nadda said Singh always served people during his long career in politics. Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar said Singh stood for the rights of farmers and was intrinsic to the ‘secular fabric of India’. Singh, son of former Prime Minister Charan Singh, was diagnosed with Covid-19 on April 20. He passed away at a hospital  in Gurugram.