Mumbai: Former Maharashtra minister and senior Congress leader Eknath Gaikwad died of COVID-19 infection on Wednesday, party sources said. He was 81.
The former MP, who was the father of Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad, succumbed to the viral infection at a city hospital around 10 am, the sources added.
Eknath Gaikwad had also served as the president of the Mumbai Congress.
Describing Gaikwad as a "father-like figure and mentor", Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the death was "quite saddening".
"Congress party and I have suffered immense loss. Short of words. Tributes!" Sawant tweeted.
.@INCMumbai चे माजी अध्यक्ष पितृतुल्य, मार्गदर्शक व अत्यंत जवळीकीचे, काँग्रेसचे ज्येष्ठ नेते, काँग्रेस विचारांचे पाईक माजी खासदार एकनाथ गायकवाड यांचे निधन अत्यंत दुःखदायक आहे. काँग्रेस पक्षाची व माझी अपरिमित हानी झाली आहे. शब्द कमी पडत आहेत. भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली! pic.twitter.com/ewhbV68Ulm
— Sachin Sawant सचिन सावंत (@sachin_inc) April 28, 2021
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