Keshubhai Patel's brother passes away

Rajkot, July 11 (UNI) Khodidas Patel, the elder brother of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, died here today.

He was 86 and is survived by two sons -- Lalit and Niramjan.

He was suffering from intestine cancer for the last two years.

Mr Patel was an active member of erstwhile Jana Sangh, chairman of Rajkot Marketing Yard and had courted arrest during the Emergency, family sources here said.

On hearing the death news, Keshubhai Patel rushed from his Gandhinagar residence to attend his brother's funeral here this evening. He is likely to cancel his tour programme scheduled next week.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi conveyed their condolence to Mr Patel on phone.

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