Chhota Udepur (Gujarat), July 12 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday attended separate prayer meetings for former minister and veteran tribal leader Mohansinh Rathwa and State Organising Secretary (Prant Sangathan Mantri) of Vidya Bharati Gujarat Pradesh Mahesh Patange, offering floral tributes and meeting their bereaved families.

Patel first attended the prayer meeting of Mohansinh Rathwa at the Shri Mohansinh Chhotubhai Rathwa Arts and Science College campus in Pavi Jetpur in Chhota Udepur district, where he paid floral tributes before the late leader’s portrait and expressed condolences to his family.

He also prayed for the peace of Rathwa’s soul. The prayer meeting was attended by state BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma, Rajya Sabha MP Mukesh Rathwa, Lok Sabha MPs Jashu Rathwa and Mansukh Vasava, MLAs Abhesinh Tadvi and Jayanti Rathwa, former Lok Sabha MP Gita Rathwa, former Union Railway Minister Naran Rathwa, leaders from various political parties, representatives of social organisations, religious leaders and a large number of citizens.

Rathwa, one of Gujarat’s most prominent tribal political leaders, died on July 5 at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness.

A 10-time member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, he first entered the Assembly in 1972 and represented the Pavi Jetpur and Chhota Udepur constituencies during a political career spanning five decades.

He served as a minister in successive Gujarat governments and was regarded as a leading voice for tribal welfare.

After spending most of his political career in the Congress, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections but did not contest because of ill health.

He is survived by three sons, including Chhota Udepur (ST) MLA Rajendrasinh Rathwa.

Later in the day, the Chief Minister attended a prayer meeting for Mahesh Patange, popularly known as Maheshji, the late ‘Sangathan mantri’ of Vidya Bharati Gujarat Pradesh, at Sanskar Dham in Godhavi.

Patel paid floral tributes to Patange and joined family members and associates in offering prayers.

State BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma accompanied the Chief Minister, while prominent personalities from the social, educational and political spheres, party workers and members of Patange’s family also attended the gathering to pay their respects.

Patange was associated with Vidya Bharati, a nationwide educational organisation, for many years and was known for his work in strengthening its activities across Gujarat.

–IANS

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