Himachal: Jubbal-Kotkhai MLA Narinder Bragta dies at PGI

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 5

Former Minister and sitting BJP legislator Narinder Bragta died of heart and kidney complications at the PGI, Chandigarh, on Saturday.

Bragta who had recovered from Covid was under treatment for heart and kidney issues at the PGI for over a month. He was also the Chief Whip of the BJP in the Himachal Assembly.

Bragta had been elected to the Vidhan Sabha for the first time in 1998 and remained Horticulture Minister in the BJP regime led by PK Dhumal from 1998 to 2003. He again remained a Cabinet Minister in the Dhumal-led BJP regime from 2007 to 2012. He was born on September 12, 1952.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while condoling the death of Bragta said the party had lost a sincere and dedicated leader whose loss is irreparable. 

Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal also expressed grief at the demise of Bragta and said he was a very sincere leader who always worked for the development of his area and people. Bragta’s son, Chetan Bragta, broke the news of his father’s demise early morning while stating that his father had lost the fight. His cremation will take place in his native village in Kotkhai on Sunday, where his body will reach in the afternoon from Chandigarh.

Bragta had been peeved at not being inducted in the BJP regime headed by Thakur in 2017. He was considered a Dhumal loyalist. Attempts were made to placate him by appointing him as Chief Whip of the BJP in the Vidhan Sabha.

The BJP had lost its Mandi MP Ram Swaroop in March earlier this year. Prior to that Congress MLA from Fatehpur in Kangra district had passed away in February. As such, there will be three bypolls to two Aassembly and one Vidhan Sabha seat in the state, this year.