Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh died on Thursday morning at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital(IGMC) in Shimla after a three-month-long battle with Covid illness.
The 87-year-old veteran Congress leader succumbed to post-covid complications, and breathed his last at 4 am, said Dr. Janak Raj, Medical Superintendent of IGMC.
Mr. Singh was admitted to the hospital on April 30 and was under constant monitoring of the doctors’ team. Although he recovered from Covid, his condition deteriorated with post-Covid issues like pneumonia. Also, he had comorbidities like diabetes and other health issues. He was shifted to the ventilator two days back, after he had breathing problems, added Dr. Janak Raj.
As a mark of respect to Mr. Singh, the state government has decided to declare three-day mourning. “Virbhadra Singh, former chief minister, Himachal Pradesh, passed away in the morning hours of July 8, 2021. As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, the government of Himachal Pradesh has decided to observe three days of state mourning in the state from July 8 to July 10. There shall be no official entertainment during this period,” the government said in a statement.
Mr. Singh has been a nine-time MLA and five-time MP and served as Himachal Pradesh chief minister for six terms. He also remained State Congress President in 1977, 1979, 1980, and 2012. He made his entry into politics after being elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1962. He remained Union Minister for Steel and also a Deputy Minister in the Indira Gandhi’s cabinet.
The passing away of Mr. Singh marks the end of an era where he dominated the state political scene for almost six decades. His death has left a big vacuum in Congress as no other leader enjoys the kind of mass appeal and popularity that he did.
Mr. Singh hailed from the erstwhile royal family of Bushair. His wife Pratibha Singh and son Vikramaditya Singh are also politicians. Ms. Pratibha is a former MP, while Vikramaditya is MLA from Shimla rural.