UP BJP MLA Janmejay Singh dies of cardiac arrest

Lucknow/Deoria, August 21

BJP MLA from Deoria Sadar seat, Janmejay Singh, died of a cardiac arrest at a hospital in Lucknow, party spokesperson Chandra Mohan said Friday. He was 75.

Singh was admitted to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute after he developed health complications and died during pacemaker implantation on Thursday night, Mohan said.

The MLA was initially taken to the civil hospital but was referred to Lohia hospital, he added.

Hospital Medical Superintendent Vikram Singh said the MLA suffered a heart attack.

The Uttar Pradesh Assembly, which is in session, paid tributes to its sitting member.

As soon as the House assembled, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath informed it of Singh's death. Speaker Hriday Narayan Dikshit and leaders of all political parties - Samajwadi Party, BSP, Congress, SBSP and Apna Dal - paid tributes and recalled his services.

After observing a two-minute silence, the House was adjourned for the day as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

"He was a devoted public figure who was working hard for the development of his constituency. He used to work for the poor and weaker sections of society. In his death, the party has lost a dedicated worker and the public has lost a true well-wisher," Adityanath said in a statement.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also condoled the death.

In a tweet, he prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to his family to bear the loss.

The body of Singh, who is survived by three sons and four daughters, had reached his Deoria residence and the last rites would be performed in Gorakhpur later on Friday, family sources said in Deoria.

Singh, who was first elected to the House in a by-election in 2000, was again elected in the 2012 and 2017 state polls. PTI