Congress leader Deora dies aged 77

LONGEST SERVING PETROLEUM MINISTER’S POLITICAL CAREER SPANNED DECADES

Murli Deora, veteran Congress leader from Maharastra and former Petroleum Minister, died here yesterday morning after a prolonged illness. He was 77. Murli bhai, as he was fondly called, is survived by his wife and two sons, including former MP Milind Deora.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leaders and others condoled Deora’s demise and said he was popular across party lines.

“Just yesterday I had spoken to Shri Murli Deora’s family & asked about his health. Very sad to hear the unfortunate news today,” Modi said on Twitter. “My deepest condolences to the Deora family on Shri Murli Deora’s demise. May his soul rest in peace.

“A dedicated leader, Shri Murli Deora’s warm nature made him popular across party lines. News of his demise is saddening,” Modi said in a series of tweets.

Congress leader Ajay Maken described him as a pillar of strength.

Murli Deora, was a Gandhi family loyalist who had friends across the political and corporate spectrum. He was India’s longest serving Petroleum Minister — completing five years in office in a tenure that began in January 2006 and was spread between United Progressive Alliance- 1 and II.

During his political career spanning over four decades, he was the longest serving chief of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee which he helmed for 22 years.

Surprise pick

A close confidant of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Deora was a key party fund raiser who was on personal terms with most of India’s wellknown industrialists. He was rewarded for his loyalty when he was a surprise pick to replace Mani Shankar Aiyar as Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas in January 2006 during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s first term.

Deora was a known to be pro-US even during the Cold War when India was closely aligned with the erstwhile Soviet Union and hosted several leaders from the US during the 1980s.

An economics graduate, he was Mayor of Mumbai from 1977 to 1978.