MUMBAI: Former Nagpur MP and firebrand leader Jambuwantrao Dhote, who always stood for the cause of separate Vidarbha, passed away on Saturday morning at Yawatmal following a massive heart attack.
Dhote suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to a nearby private nursing home where he died during the course of treatment, his family member said.
Dhote was 78 and is survived by wife, Vijaya and two daughters, Kranti and Jwala.
Popularly known as “Lion of Vidarbha”, Dhote was also a legislator for two terms from Yavatmal district. An ardent disciple of Subhash Chandra Bose, he started his political career with the Forward Bloc and later moved to the Congress in the late 70s before joining the Shiv Sena.
After being elected to the Assembly in 1962, the firebrand leader was suspended after he threw a paper-weight at the Assembly speaker, after being prevented from putting forth the issue of Vidarbha statehood.
Former advocate general of the state Shirhari Aney, who lost his job for airing his views regarding separate Vidarbha, expressed deep grief over the loss of the leader. “We have lost the lion, just while the possibility of his dream of separate Vidarbha coming true have increased,” Aney said.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP president Raosaheb Danve, MPCC chief Ashok Chavan too have expressed grief over the demise of the leader.