Pune MP Girish Bapat has passed away at the age of 72 at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune after battling an illness for the last one-and-a-half years. Leaders across the political spectrum mourned his demise, with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the tributes. They remembered Bapat as a “humble and hardworking leader” who worked tirelessly for the development of Maharashtra.
Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, and S Jaishankar called him a “grassroots leader” who was at the “forefront of several community service efforts”. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and former CM Uddhav Thackeray spoke in one voice to remember Bapat’s “people-oriented leadership” who worked tirelessly for workers and farmers.
Bapat had served as the MLA five times from the Kasba Peth constituency in Pune city. Maharashtra unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, said Bapat’s demise was a big loss for the party. Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra cabinet minister Chandrakant Patil said Bapat was like a guru and a father figure.
“It is a big loss for the BJP as Bapat has left us forever. We used to learn a lot from him and his style of politics,” Bawankule said. Patil said Bapat was like a guru for many BJP workers and his colleagues. “It is like losing a father figure from your life. His friendship across the party lines and contacts with people and party workers were unparalleled. He was dedicated to the party and its growth. His demise is a huge loss to the party,” Patil said.