MUMBAI - BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan lost his battle for life when he breathed his last at 1610 hrs IST at the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai today. The 56-year-old Mahajan had been battling for life ever since his younger brother Pravin shot him on 22 April.
Mahajan's health had worsened in the last 48 hours as he developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). The first indication that all was not well and perhaps he would not survive was when senior BJP leaders including Sushma Swaraj rushed to the hospital. Even BJP workers began gathering outside. Pramod's family was let into the ICU for the first time at around 1400 hrs IST.
His wife Rekha, son Rahul and daughter Poonam were at his bedside when he breathed his last.
"It is with deep regret we have to announce that Pramod Mahajan, who had been battling for life for the last 12 days, succumbed to his bullet injuries," said Pramod Lele, chief executive officer of Hinduja Hospital. He was addressing reporters outside the hospital. He added that doctors had tried their best, but God had willed otherwise.
Born on October 30 in Mahububnagar, Andhra Pradesh, Mahajan's charismatic journey in the murky world of politics is a noteworthy one. His career began in Aurangabad in 1978 as an RSS worker. He was very active and was a Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Telecom Minister in the NDA regime. However, he was also seen as responsible for the party's downfall since the "India Shining" campaign was his brainchild. However Mahajan owned up responsibility and began working to regain his position. In the last six months, he was seen as pivotal to the BJP's fortunes.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi have expressed shock at Mahajan's death. Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray also visited Mahajan at the Hinduja hospital earlier in the afternoon. He will be cremated at Shivaji Park crematorium on Thursday.
