Former Union minister Baleshwar Ram dead

Patna, May 3: Former Union minister and veteran Congress leader Baleshwar Ram died due to kidney-related ailments in a private hospital here, his family sources said today.

He was 87. Ram, who passed away last night, leaves behind his wife, two sons and two daughters.

A five-term MLA from various assembly constituencies since 1952, Ram had served in ministerial capacity in various Congress governments in Bihar in 1960s and 1970s.

He was elected to Lok Sabha from Rosera constituency in 1980 and went to serve in the Indira Gandhi government as the Union minister.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Bihar Congress President Ashok Chaudhary were among other leaders having expressed grief at passing away of the octogenarian leader. In a condolence message, Kumar said that Ram's demise has left a huge void in Bihar.

PTI