Ex- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur passes away

Bhopal:  Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Babulal Gaur passed away on Wednesday morning at a private hospital here after prolonged illness.

Gaur (89) suffered a cardiac arrest late on Tuesday night, Narmada Hospital director Rajesh Sharma told the media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to condole Gaur's death. "Shri Babulal Gaur Ji served people for decades. From Jana Sangh days, he worked constantly to strengthen our Party. As Minister and CM of Madhya Pradesh he undertook many efforts to transform the state. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," Modi tweeted.

Gaur will be cremated at the Subhash Nagar crematorium with full state honours later in the afternoon. He was suffering from various age-related ailments and was hospitalised for quite some time.

The veteran BJP leader served as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister from 2004-2005 and had represented his traditional Govindpura Vidhan Sabha seat 10 times.

Born on June 2, 1930, at Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, Gaur emerged as a powerful and popular leader in Madhya Pradesh initially as a trade union leader and later as a minister.