BackVeteran Cong leader and two-time MP CM Motilal Vora dies
Vora was considered a Gandhi family loyalist and had worked with three generations of the family including former prime minister Indira Gandhi, party president Sonia Gandhi, and former party president Rahul Gandhi
PremiumIn his farewell address as a Rajya Sabha member in March, Motilal Vora ended his speech with Robert Frost’s “Miles to go before I sleep", recalling his years of administrative and political life. On Monday, the veteran Congress leader and close confidante of the Gandhi family passed away in the national capital. His last position in the party till earlier this year was general secretary in charge of administration. He died just a day after his 93rd birthday.
With an association of over five decades with the Congress party, Vora held almost every significant political and administrative position at the Centre and states during his public life. He was a two-time chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, the governor of Uttar Pradesh, Union cabinet minister, member of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as well as a member of the legislative assembly (MLA) and state minister of Madhya Pradesh.
Before taking charge of party’s administration in August 2018, Vora had one of the longest stints as the treasurer of the Congress and was succeeded by Ahmed Patel, who died in November. Like Patel, Vora too was considered as a Gandhi family loyalist and had worked with three generations, including former prime minister Indira Gandhi, party president Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi.
“Voraji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much. My love and condolences to his family and friends," Rahul Gandhi posted on Twitter on Monday afternoon.
A journalist by profession in his early years, Vora held significant posts in Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) and Young India which later landed in controversy. He was an active party functionary and was involved in all key meetings of the party, and was elected to the Rajya Sabha four times.
“The senior-most Congressman, the evergreen and ever-active Motilal Vora passed away a day after he turned 93. He was one of the most decent of men who left his mark in public life in MP, Chhattisgarh, UP and in Parliament," senior Congress lawmaker and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh posted on Twitter.
“He was very amused when I once told him that the seat he occupied in Rajya Sabha had once been occupied by C.N. Annadurai and J. Jayalalitha. Even in his late 80s and early 90s, he was a fully involved MP and a role model," Ramesh added.
PM Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the demise of Vora. “Shri Motilal Vora Ji was among the senior-most Congress leaders, who had vast administrative and organisational experience in a political career that spanned decades. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and well-wishers," the PM said in a tweet.
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