Veteran Congress Leader Vasantrao Chavan Passes Away at 70

Veteran Congress leader and recently elected Member of Parliament for Nanded, Vasantrao Chavan, passed away on August 26, 2024, in Hyderabad at the age of 70. His death followed a prolonged illness, during which he was receiving treatment at KIMS Hospital.

Mr. Chavan’s condition deteriorated rapidly late on Sunday night, ultimately leading to his passing at 4 a.m. on Monday. Despite facing significant health challenges, he secured a substantial victory in the recent Lok Sabha elections, defeating the sitting BJP MP Prataprao Patil Chikhalikar by a margin of 528,894 votes to 469,452.

Born in Naigaon in the Nanded district, Vasantrao Chavan had a long political career. He began as a member of the gram panchayat, progressed to become a zilla parishad member, and was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 2002. In 2009, he became an independent MLA representing the Naigaon assembly seat and was later re-elected as a Congress candidate in 2014.

Chavan’s leadership was instrumental in the Congress party’s efforts in Nanded, particularly following the departure of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who joined the BJP prior to the elections. Vasantrao Chavan expressed gratitude to Ashok Chavan for his decision to switch parties, which some viewed as a significant loss for the Congress.

Following his passing, condolences poured in from various political leaders, including Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole and Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar. Patole remarked on Chavan’s unwavering loyalty to the party, noting that he brought the ideals of Congress to the forefront even amidst adversity.