Former BJP minister and senior party leader Raj K Purohit passed away in a private hospital in Mumbai on Sunday. He was 71 years old.
Groomed for right-wing politics since the Jana Sangha days, five-term MLA Purohit hailed from Rajasthan and made Mumbai his home and work place. He was elected from Mumbadevi Assembly constituency from 1990 to 2009. His last term was from Colaba from 2014 to 2019.
Known as an affectionate and friendly person not only within BJP but among rival parties also, Purohit hobnobbed with leaders of the Congress and NCP with ease, maintaining cordial equations. He was Mumbai BJP president from September 2010 to June 2013 and was proactive as the chief whip in the state legislative assembly from 2014 to 2019.
A North Indian face of the BJP, Purohit was among prominent leaders representing South Mumbai. The redevelopment of Mumbadevi complete with infrastructure, basic amenities on the lines of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor or Ujjain’s Mahakal was a project he relentlessly pursued with the state government since 2014-15.
In 2019, when the BJP denied him a ticket from Colaba, he was disappointed but it never stopped him from working for the party.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in his condolence message from Davos, said, “He was a part of our parivar, friendly, affectionate, always in the forefront for serving the organisation. A firm and committed leader, Raj Purohit had served as chief whip of the party with absolute dedication.”
Leaders across political parties described Purohit as a leader who understood organisational processes and had an excellent grassroots network. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, “His penchant to pursue issues related to Mumbai was amazing. He studied subjects thoroughly.”
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Terming Purohit’s demise as shocking, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde posted on X, “We worked together for several decades in Maharashtra. From a Mumbai municipal corporator to an MLA and a minister in the Maharashtra Assembly, my friend Raj Purohit was a popular public representative deeply connected with the people.”
Purohit was regarded as the biggest “messiah” for migrant tenants living in Mumbai and had worked throughout his life for their upliftment, Tawde said, adding, “His demise is an irreparable loss for the BJP in Maharashtra and for me personally.”
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recalled how Purohit raised issues of padgi and rental systems. In the recently concluded Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Raj Purohit’s son and BJP leader Akash Purohit won from ward number 221
