Dimapur: Nagaland BJP unit president Dr M. Chuba Ao and all rank and file of the party have expressed grief over the demise of former national BJP president Bangaru Laxman on March 1 at the age of 74. A condolence message issued by BJP Nagaland general secretary and spokesman, K James Vizo stated that Laxman, who was ailing for some time, suffered a fatal heart attack at a private hospital in Hyderabad. He is survived by his wife, Susheela Laxman, BJP MP of 14th Lok Sabha, three daughters and a son.
Bangaru Laxman was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council in 1985, before entering the Rajya Sabha in April 1996. In October 1999, he was inducted into the NDA government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee as Minister of State for Planning and Programme Implementation and was later appointed MoS in the Railway Ministry.
He was the first dalit leader to head BJP and was also the president of All India BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha for seven years and also national vice president of the BJP. He was secretary of the Andhra Pradesh unit of Bharatiya Janasangh between 1973 and 1977 and Secretary of the Janata Party's Andhra Pradesh unit in 1978 before becoming convenor of the state unit of the newly-formed BJP in 1980. He was its general secretary between 1980 and 1985 and president between 1986 and 1988.
The Party prayed that the Almighty God will give peace, comfort and solace to the family, and also lead the departed soul to rest in peace.
