The Congress' lone Lok Sabha member from Maharashtra, Suresh alias Balu Dhanorkar, died early Tuesday at a private hospital in neighbouring Gurgaon where he was admitted following complications after surgery to remove kidney stones, a party leader said. He was 47.
Dhanorkar is survived by wife Pratibha, an MLA, and two sons.
"Balubhau breathed his last early Tuesday morning while undergoing treatment at a private hospital," Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said.
Dhanorkar's 80-year-old father Narayan Dhanorkar passed away in Nagpur on Saturday evening after a prolonged illness. The MP could not attend his father's last rites on Sunday.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Indian Youth Congress President Srinivas B V and other leaders condoled Dhanorkar's death.
"The news of the sudden demise of Balubhau Dhanorkar, Lok Sabha member from Chandrapur is very sad. He kept striving for the development of his region and Maharashtra," Murmu said on Twitter.
"Saddened by the passing away of Lok Sabha MP from Chandrapur, Balubhau Narayanrao Dhanorkar Ji. He will be remembered for his contribution to public service and empowering the poor. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," Modi said.
Dhanorkar underwent surgery for kidney stones at a Nagpur hospital on May 26 and was airlifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Sunday after he developed complications.
"He was admitted to a Nagpur-based hospital last week for the treatment of kidney stones. He was later shifted to New Delhi but he could not survive," Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said.
Dhanorkar's mortal remains will be kept at his hometown in Warora in Chandrapur district Tuesday afternoon for people to pay their last respects.
The last rites will be held in Warora on Wednesday morning.
Dhanorkar began his political career in the Shiv Sena led by Balasaheb Thackeray and rose through the party ranks to become a Member of the Legislative Assembly in 2014.
He quit the Shiv Sena to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as a Congress candidate against BJP strongman and four-term Parliamentarian Hansraj Ahir. Dhanorkar defeated Ahir, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, by a margin of 44,763 votes and wrested the Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat for the Congress.
He was the only Lok Sabha member of the Congress from Maharashtra.
Dhanorkar's wife Pratibha is a Member of Legislative Assembly from Warora-Bhadrawati assembly seat in Maharashtra.
Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, said he was deeply saddened by the sudden demise of his colleague in the Lok Sabha.
"The untimely demise of Dhanorkar has left a great void in the political circles in Maharashtra," he said.
"Saddened to learn about the untimely passing away of Shri Suresh Narayan Dhanorkar, Congress MP (Lok Sabha) from Chandrapur Maharashtra. He was a grassroots leader. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and followers, Kharge said.
"I am saddened by the demise of Suresh Dhanorkar. He dedicated his life to fulfill the aspirations of the common people and carry their hopes and expectations to the Lok Sabha," Lok Sabha Speaker om Birla said.
Rahul Gandhi said Dhanorkar's demise has caused an irreparable loss to the Congress family. "He will remain alive in our memories forever." Gandhi said.
