Mahajan's body arrives at BJP HQ

Mumbai, May 3 (UNI) The body of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Pramod Mahajan, who died at Hinduja Hospital here this afternoon 12 days after he was shot at by his younger brother Pravin, was brought to the state BJP headquarters in South Mumbai tonight.

The body was received by former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, former Human Resource Development Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, former party Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and others.

The body was kept outside the BJP office for the public to pay their last respect.

From here, the body would be taken to his residence Poorna at Worli in South Central Mumbai.

The funeral will be held tomorrow, and the procession will start at 1000 hrs.

Meanwhile, Mr Advani told media persons that it was a great loss for the party in Mahajan's death. ''On many occasions, we used to discuss several issues and his opinions were found to be correct,'' he remarked.

UNI JM SSS VD ND2328