Ex-Maharashtra minister Raj Purohit passes away days after son wins BMC polls

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party BJP leader and former Maharashtra minister Raj K Purohit died following an illness sources said on Sunday Following his demise political leaders expressed their griefPurohit passed away at a private hospital in Mumbai on Saturday He was 71In the recently concluded BMC Election 2026 Raj Purohitrsquos son and BJP leader Akash Purohit won from Ward No 221A wellknown face in Mumbairsquos BJP circles Purohit had served as the partyrsquos city president and was a minister in the Maharashtra government He was also the BJPrsquos chief whip in the state Assembly between 2014 and 2019He was once considered one of the most influential leaders of the BJPrsquos Mumbai unit and held significant political influence in south Mumbai However he was denied a ticket in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly electionsParty leaders said his death has left Maharashtrarsquos political and social life poorer describing him as an experienced and wellread leader with strong grassroots connectionsPolitical leaders pay tributePaying tribute BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde said he was deeply saddened by Purohitrsquos demiseldquoFrom a Mumbai municipal corporator to an MLA and a minister in the Maharashtra Assembly my friend Raj Purohit was a popular public representative who was deeply connected with the peoplerdquo Tawde said in a post on X hellip pictwittercomYIDiUoe2f1mdash Vinod Tawde TawdeVinod January 18 2026Tawde also described Purohit as a major supporter of migrant tenants in Mumbai and said he had worked throughout his life for their welfareldquoHis passing is an irreparable loss for the BJP in Maharashtra and a personal loss for merdquo he addedAjit Pawar expressed condolences to his family In a post on X he wrote Purohit was a wellread outspoken leader who worked tirelessly in the public interest His passing marks the end of a committed and peopleoriented leadership pictwittercomQKzKiOd7FYmdash Ajit Pawar AjitPawarSpeaks January 18 2026Raje expresses griefSenior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje expressed deep sorrow over the death of veteran BJP leader Raj K PurohitIn a post on X Raje said Purohit had strong roots in Rajasthan and shared a close bond with the people of the state She described his passing as a major loss for the regionShe also prayed for peace for the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family to cope with the loss during this difficult time hellip pictwittercomMpgttDm47Rmdash Vasundhara Raje VasundharaBJP January 18 2026Praful Patel pays tribute to Raj PurohitNCP leader Praful Patel also expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Maharashtra minister Raj PurohitIn a post on X Patel said that with Purohitrsquos passing the state has lost a wellread and forthright personality He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and relatives and paid his respectful tribute to the late leader pictwittercom00No0aevD4mdash Praful Patel praful_patel January 18 2026