Maharashtra Assembly former Deputy Speaker Pramod Shende dead

NAGPUR: Former Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly, Pramod Shende passed away after a prolonged illness.

He was 77.

Shende, who resided in Wardha, was admitted to a private hospital in the city, where he died of multi-organ failure yesterday, family sources said.

He was a six-term MLA and also a Minister of State from 1988 till 1990 in the Sharad Pawar government. He served as the Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly from 1999 till 2009.

He is survived by three sons and a daughter.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis, who is on an official visit to London, condoled Shende's death.

State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, former Chief Minister and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Chavan and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil also expressed grief on the leader's demise.