Former Mumbai Congress chief and MP Eknath Gaikwad dies due to COVID-19

Former MP and Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad's father Eknath Gaikwad passed away on Wednesday due to COVID-19. The former Congress MP and Maharashtra Minister passed away at 10 am today in a Mumbai hospital.

Gaikwad represented the Mumbai South Central constituency of Mumbai. He lost the seat to Rahul Shewale in 2014. He was a Member of Legislative Assembly, winning thrice from Dharavi and also twice state minister of Maharashtra state cabinet. Since 1985, he had represented Dharavi which is Asia's largest slum.

His daughter Varsha Gaikwad is presently the School Education Minister in the Maharashtra government.

"Congress Party's senior leader, Ex-MP, Ex-Minister Eknath Gaikwad Ji passed away today. My deepest condolences to his daughter and Education Minister of Maharashtra @VarshaEGaikwad, Gaikwad family and his friends/supporters," tweeted Maharashtra State Youth Congress leader Satyajeet Tambe.

"Extremely sad to learn about passing away of senior Congress Leader Shri Eknath Gaikwad Ji. He always encouraged youngsters like me to come forward in service to the common man. I stand with @VarshaEGaikwad ji and fly in this moment of sorrow and pray to god for noble soul to rest in eternal peace," added Youth Congress leader Brijkishore Dutt.

Extremely sad to learn about passing away of Snr @INCIndia Leader Sh. Eknath Gaikwad Ji. He always encouraged youngsters like me to come fwd in service to commonman. I stand with @VarshaEGaikwad ji & fly in this moment of sorrow & pray to god 4 noble soul to rest in eternal peace pic.twitter.com/IOtJPmjYAG

— Brijkishore Dutt (@brijdutt) April 28, 2021

Congress Party's senior leader, Ex-MP, Ex-Minister Eknath Gaikwad Ji passed away today.
My deepest condolences to his daughter and Education Minister of Maharashtra @VarshaEGaikwad, Gaikwad family and his friends/supporters. pic.twitter.com/FSBtScFAFX

— Satyajeet Tambe (@satyajeettambe) April 28, 2021