New Delhi: Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Virbhadra Singh passed away at the age of 87 in Shimla in the early hours of Thursday after a three-month-long battle with post-Covid complications, doctors said. He was 87.
He had twice recovered from Covid-19. He had suffered from a heart attack on July 5 and was in the critical care unit of the IGMCH. Later, he was put on a ventilator after he had a breathing problem.
His cremation is likely to take place at his native place Rampur.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and condoled his demise.
"Shri Virbhadra Singhji had a long political career, with rich administrative and legislative experience," Modi informed in a tweet.
"He played a pivotal role in Himachal Pradesh and served the people of the state. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti."
Political observers say his death will a big vacuum for Congress leadership.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Jagat Prakash Nadda expressed their condolences on Virbhadra Singh's demise.
Following his demise, the Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday declared a three-day mourning.
There shall be no official entertainment during this period. All state government offices, including boards, corporations and autonomous institutions, except the offices dealing with the essential services, will be closed on Thursday.
Popularly known as 'Raja Saab' as he was born heir into the erstwhile princely state of Bushahr, Virbhadra Singh was in active politics for over 50 years.
In the last decade of his political career, he was a regular target of the top BJP leadership, who pointed to his being out on bail and facing corruption charges during the time he was the Union Steel Minister 2009-11.
In his every election -- be it the Assembly or the parliamentary -- Virbhadra Singh single-handedly campaigned and conducted 15 to 20 meetings every day.