Ex-Union minister Akhilesh Das Gupta passes away at 56

Former Union minister and Congress leader Akhilesh Das Gupta died early Wednesday morning in Lucknow following cardiac arrest. He was 56.

Gupta, who celebrated his birthday on March 31, suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to the Lari heart hospital where he died in the wee hours, the party sources said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, several cabinet ministers, top bureaucrats and politicians visited his residence to offer their condolences.

Gupta was a Rajya Sabha member for three terms till 2014 and Union Minister of State for Steel between 2006 and 2008.

He had quit Congress in 2008 and joined Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), but returned to his parent party early this year.

The son of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Banarsi Das Gupta, he is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.

Gupta was Mayor of Lucknow from May 1993 to November 1995.

In 2012, he became President of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) after the arrest of then chief VK Verma over corruption charges in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

He was unanimously re-elected for a four-year term in 2014.

Last year, he was also elected the vice-president of the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC) for a four-year term.

Under his tenure, India bagged the right to host Marquee BWF events like the 2014 Thomas/Uber Cup and the Super Series, while Syed Modi international championship was upgraded to a Grand Prix gold status.

He was also instrumental in launching and organising the cash-rich Indian Badminton League in August 2013, which was rechristened to Premier Badminton League in 2015.