Gujarat BJP MLA Raja Patel dies

Surat (Guj), Aug 5: BJP MLA from Choryasi assembly constituency in Surat district, Rajendra Patel, passed away at a hospital in Mumbai today. He was 60.

The MLA, popularly known as Raja Patel, was admitted to in a Mumbai hospital yesterday after he was diagnosed with dengue last week. "He was first admitted to a private hospital here.

However, when his condition failed to improve, he was shifted to Hinduja Hospital (in Mumbai) by air-ambulance service last evening," his relative said. However, the legislator was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon.

The MLA had won the assembly polls from Choryasi constituency in 2012 on a BJP ticket. Expressing grief over his demise, state Health Minister Nitin Patel termed it as a "great loss". In his condolence message, Gujarat Governor O P Kohli said Patel was a dedicated leader who spent his entire life in the service of people.

PTI