Nashik, Sep 17: Former Union Minister of State and senior congress leader Manikrao Gavit passed away after a brief illness.
He died during treatment at a private hospital in Nashik on Saturday. He was 88 years old.
The body of the late Gavit will be cremated tomorrow at his native village Dhulipada. He was the father of former MLA Nirmala Gavit of Igatpuri-Triambakeshwar constituency.
On Friday (yesterday) State Tribal Development Minister Dr. Vijayakumar Gavit had a meeting with him . Late Manikrao Gavit was elected for 9 consecutive times from Nandurbar Lok Sabha Constituency. Due to his death, a mournful atmosphere has been created in Dhule Nandurbar district.
Relative Bhalchandra Gavit informed that the last rites will be performed on Sunday at 11 am at his farm in Dhulipada. His body will be brought from Nashik to his residence in Navapur today.
Manikrao Gavit was elected as MP from Nandurbar for nine consecutive times. He was popularly known as ‘Dadasaheb’ among activists. Manikrao Gavit’s son Bharat Gavit has given the sad news of his father’s death on Twitter.
Manikrao started his political career in 1965 from Gram Panchayat. After that, he got the posts of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Minister of State for Social Justice without asking. As the senior most MP in Parliament, he also held the post of Interim Speaker of the Lok Sabha. He contested the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1981 and won. After that he won for nine consecutive years.
Nandurbar Lok Sabha Constituency and Congress had formed an equation. But in Nandurbar, which is a stronghold of Congress, Manikrao Gavit was defeated in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Manikrao Gavit is survived by one son, former G.P. Chairman and current member Bharat Gavit, three daughters, former MLA Nirmala Gavit, .Dr. Jayshree Gavit, and Nita Gavit.
