Former Maharashtra AssemblySpeaker and senior NCP leader Babasaheb Kupekar passed awayhere today following a prolonged illness, family sources said.
Kupekar, 70, had been suffering from cancer and hebreathed at his last at the Jaslok hospital this morning,where he was admitted in the ICU more than a month ago,sources said.
He is survived by wife and three daughters.
Kupekar, who represented the Gadhinglaj constituencyin Kolhapur district, was also a former chairman of the StatePlanning Board.
The mortal remains will be taken to his hometown laterin the day and the funeral will take place tomorrow morning.
Kupekar's real name was Krishnarao Rakhmajirao Desai.
In the Congress-NCP coalition government, he served asminister of state for cooperation, environment, labour andindustries from 1999-2004. Later, he was elevated as theLegislative Assembly Speaker.
In his hometown, he headed several educationalinstitutions.
Kupekar began his political career as a sarpanch ofKanadewadi in the Gadhinglaj taluka. He was also the directorof Kolhapur District Cooperative Bank.
Before 1999, he was the general secretary of theMaharashtra Congress and after NCP came in existence, he wasappointed president of the Kolhapur district NCP unit.