Pandurang Phundkar, 67, dies of heart attack

Mumbai: Agricultural minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pandurang Phundkar passed away on Thursday morning at around 4.35 am following a massive heart attack.

The 67-year-old Phundkar, who was alone at home, woke up at 4 am and threw up. As he was feeling uncomfortable, the BJP leader called a security personnel, who helped him get admitted to the KJ Somaiaya Hospital. However, the doctors could not save him after the cardiac attack and he died while undergoing treatment.

Mr Phundkar was elected as a member of the Maharashtra legislative assembly from Khamgaon, district, in 1978 and 1980. He was a member of the 9th, 10th and 11th Lok Sabha from Akola constituency. He was BJP state president in the period between 1991 to 1996. He also served leader of opposition in the legislative council.  He was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the Devendra Fadnavis government on July 8, 2016.

Born in 1950 in Buldhana, Mr Phundkar was also known as Bhausaheb Fundkar. He pursued his higher education from Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. His son Akash Pandurang Fundkar is an MLA from Khamgaon constituency.

Chief minister Mr Fadnvis condoled Mr Fundkar’s demise and recalled his late cabinet colleague’s contribution to the party and farmers’ development. “Phundkar was a senior colleague in the cabinet who had deep knowledge about agriculture and cooperative sector.” State BJP chief Raosaheb Danve said.