Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon (85) who was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Lucknow on 11th June due to breathing problems and other health issues, passed away this morning, sources quoted his son Ashutosh Tandon announcing. The last rites will be performed at 5 this evening in Lucknow.
In a medical bulletin this morning, the Medanta Hospital stated “Shri Lal Ji Tandon was admitted at Medanta on June 11. During investigations, he was diagnosed to have chronic liver disease, because of his multiple ailments, he was put on a life support system. He developed internal abdominal bleeding for which an emergency operation was performed. The operation was successful and he was shifted to ICU under the strict supervision of medical experts. Consequent to problems in his lungs, kidney, and liver, he has been put on elective ventilator support and is also undergoing dialysis.”
“Team of medical experts made all efforts for his survival; despite all efforts, he took his last breath today at 5:35 AM,” added the Hospital authorities.
His son Ashutosh Tandon, who is also a state minister in Uttar Pradesh, tweeted this morning in Hindi: “Father is no more”. In a post, Ashutosh also appealed to the people to ensure social distancing while adhering to the government guidelines on coronavirus and “pay their last respects from their homes”.
Lalji Tandon began his career from his hometown Lucknow in the 1970s and had also served as a state minister in Uttar Pradesh several times between 1991 and 2003 and also as a Lok Sabha MP from Lucknow. Lal Ji Tandon was the governor of Bihar between August 2018 and July 2019. Subsequently, he took over as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh. In 2009, the senior BJP leader and a protege of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee succeeded him as the Lucknow MP.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has been given the additional charge of Madhya Pradesh after Tandon’s illness, in the last month.
Lalji Tandon is well known for his bolster on reforming higher education in Madhya Pradesh in a way that it becomes truly useful for the progress of society and a vehicle to make the future generations in the state self-dependent in life. “There is no use of education that does not reform society and becomes the vehicle of its progress. But higher education scenario was relegated to such a state that some universities did not have teachers, while others did not have students,” Tandon said to the sources in November 2019.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences: “Shri Lalji Tandon will be remembered for his untiring efforts to serve society. He played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. He made a mark as an effective administrator, always giving importance to public welfare. Anguished by his passing away.”
In a series of tweets, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wrote: “I pray to God that his soul rests in peace and the family finds the courage at this difficult time.” “While he was the governor, Tandon Ji always guided us to take the right path. His love for the country and his contribution towards the development will be remembered for a long time. He will remain alive in our memories,” he added.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also condoled Lalji Tandon’s death on Twitter and tweeted in Hindi which read “Saddened to hear about the death of Madhya Pradesh Governor. In his death, the nation has lost an able administrator, popular leader, and a social worker, He was the soul of Lucknow. May his soul rest in peace.”
