Mukerian Congress MLA Rajnish Kumar Babbi passes away

Congress MLA from the Mukerian assembly seat in Punjab, Rajnish Kumar Babbi, passed away on Tuesday following a prolonged illness.

The 59-year-old breathed his last around 3 am at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here, official sources said.

He is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed grief over the death of the two-time MLA.

"Deeply anguished to learn of the death of Mukerian MLA, Rajnish Kumar Babbi ji. His untimely passing away is an immeasurable loss for Punjab. My thoughts are with his family in this time of grief," Singh said in a tweet.

Babbi was cremated in Mukerian of Hoshiarpur district with full state honours.

His elder son Sabya Sachi lit the pyre.

Earlier, Punjab Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharmsot laid a wreath on his body on behalf of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Several leaders were present at the cremation ceremony.

In his condolence message, the chief minister described Babbi as a seasoned politician, who inherited a legacy of value-based politics from his father the late Kewal Krishan, who was a former speaker and state finance minister.

Babbi was first elected to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in the 2012 assembly polls as an Independent from Mukerian after being denied ticket by the Congress.

In the 2017 assembly elections, Babbi, who was fielded by the Congress, had defeated BJP nominee Arunesh Kumar.

Earlier in the day, the state government declared a holiday in its offices and educational institutions as mark of respect to the departed leader.

State mourning was announced, during which the national flag flew half-mast and all official entertainment functions were cancelled.