Senior Congress leader Motilal Vora died in Delhi on Monday due to post-coronavirus complications, PTI reported.
He was 93. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his colleagues paid their tributes to him.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is saddened by the demise of Vora.
“Shri Motilal Vora Ji was among the senior-most Congress leaders, who had vast administrative and organisational experience in a political career that spanned decades. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and well-wishers. Om Shanti,” PM Modi said.
The Congress party tweeted, “We offer our heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of stalwart Congress leader, former Union Cabinet Minister & former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Motilal Vora. Congress has lost a guiding light. May his soul rest in peace.”
Vora was admitted to the Escorts Hospital in Okhla here a few days ago with a urinary infection. He also had a lung infection and was put on ventilator support, his family said.
He will be cremated in Chhattisgarh where his body will be taken either later in the day or on Tuesday.
Motilal Vora, a former two-time chief minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh and also a former Governor of Uttar Pradesh, had served as a Rajya Sabha member four times and as a Lok Sabha member once.
Motilal Vora was a long-time Congress leader and was considered to be very close to the Gandhi family.
He was also the Congress general secretary till the recent reshuffle by party president Sonia Gandhi.
Born in 1927, Motilal Vora began his career as a journalist.
He hailed from Durg district of Chhattisgarh, and was elected as corporator there for the first time in 1968 and then became MLA in 1972.
In 1985, he was made the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh — a post he left three years later to join the Centre. He once again became MP CM for 11 months from January 25, 1989, to December 12, 1989.
In 1993, he was appointed the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.
