Former minister and Congress MLA Mahendra Singh Kalukheda passed away on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 72 and is survived by two daughters. His wife had died a few years ago, said family members.
He was a sitting MLA from Mungawali, who was considered close to the Scindias. After Rajmata vacated the seat of Guna-Shivpuri, she had fielded Kalukheda as an independent candidate and he had emerged victorious then.
Six-time MLA, he was elected to the assembly in 2013 from Mungawali seat, which is a part of the Guna Lok Sabha constituency represented by Jyotiraditya Scindia. He was also elected to the Lok Sabha from Guna in 1984.
He was a cabinet minister in the Digvijay Singh government. When the Congress party was looking for leader of opposition, Kalukheda, one of the front-runners, was in the race from the Scindia faction.
He was suffering from heart-related ailments for last three years and undergoing treatment. He suffered a massive cardiac attack around 21 days ago and was shifted to a private hospital in New Delhi, where he breathed his last.
Last rites will be performed at his ancestral village Kalukheda in Mandsaur district on Wednesday.
Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya and state Congress president Arun Yadav condoled the death. In his condolence message, Yadav said, “Mahendra Singh Kalukheda was the senior leader of our party. His performance as MP, MLA, minister and party office-bearer was significant and impressive. His death is a great loss for the Congress party.”
