Sitting BJP MLA Rajendra Patel succumbs to dengue

His condition had worsened and he had been brought to Mumbai for advanced treatment

Rajendra Patel (60), sitting BJP legislator from Choryasi Assembly seat in Surat, passed away on Wednesday in Mumbai following a brief illness.

Patel was diagnosed with dengue and was undergoing treatment in a hospital in Surat before his condition worsened and had to be airlifted to Mumbai for advanced treatment, party sources said. His health did not improve and he succumbed to dengue.

Condoling his death, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel tweeted, "Saddened by the unfortunate demise of our MLA from Surat Rajendra Patel. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace!"

Patel, a grass-root level politician, came through the rank and file of the party. He contested the village panchayat elections and won the polls and served as Sarpanch (village head) of Sultanabad, where he was born, from 1990 to 2000.

In 2012, the party fielded him from Choryasi Assembly constituency, a predominantly Patel-dominated seat, and won comfortably. His death has reduced the number of BJP MLAs in the state legislative Assembly to 118. Congress has 56 legislators in the 182-member state legislative Assembly.