Ahmedabad: Former Speaker of Gujarat
Assembly and BJP MLA from Mansa Mangaldas Patel passed away
on Tuesday due to age-related problems.
Patel (69) died in a city hospital, where, he was taken
today, after he complained of chest-pain early this morning.
Patel was a sitting MLA from Mansa constituency in
Gandhiangar district and was elected for the third time in
2007 state elections. He was the speaker of the state Assembly
from 2002 to 2007.
Gujarat governor Kamla expressed deep shock over Patel's
death and said he was very simple and down-to-earth and had
handled the post of Speaker very well.
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Patel
and attended his funeral at Parbatpura village near Mansa.
Giving account of Patel's contribution in public life,
especially for Panchayati Raj and parliamentary activities,
Chief Minister, in his condolence message, said his
contribution, right from the post of sarpanch of a village to
the president of Gujarat Panchayat Parishad, was commendable.
"As a Speaker of Assembly, he preserved and enhanced the
parliamentary values of Gujarat," he said.
Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president
Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Shaktisinh
Gohil also expressed grief over the demise.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 00:27