RLD Chief Ajit Singh passes away, he had tested positive for COVID-19

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) President and former Union Mnister Ajit Singh passed away in the morning on May 6, 2021. He 86.

He had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 20th and was being treated at a private hospital in Guguram. As per reports, his condition deteriorated on May 5th due to lung infection.

Rashtriya Lok Dal President Chaudhary Ajit Singh passes away, confirms Jayant Chaudhary

He had tested positive for COVID19 on April 20 pic.twitter.com/TfNE5cimE4

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2021

PM Modi condoled the passing away of the Rashtriya Lok Dal President Chaudhary Ajit Singh saying, "He was devoted to the interests of the farmers. He efficiently discharged the responsibilities of several departments at the Centre."

President Ram Nath Kovind also said that he was 'saddened' at the demise of RLD President and former Union minister Chaudhary Ajit Singh in a tweet. 

President Ram Nath Kovind 'saddened' at the demise of RLD President and former Union minister Chaudhary Ajit Singh pic.twitter.com/a1Qtx3CGtp

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2021

About Ajit Singh

•He was first elected to Rajya Sabha in 1986 after his father, former prime minister Ch Charan Singh became ill. 

•He was the President of Lok Dal (A) in 1987 and Janata Party in 1988.

•He became the General Secretary of Janata Dal in 1989 after all the parties decided to merge under the leadership of VP Singh to take down the long-serving Congress government. 

•Ajit Singh served as a significant political figure in many government formations as well as alliances thereafter.

•He was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Baghpat Parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh in 1989. 

•He had served as the Minister of Industry under VP Singh's cabinet from December 1989 to November 1990.

•He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991 and served as the Minister of Food Processing Industries under PV Narasimha Rao's cabinet.

•He was again re-elected in 1996 as a Congress candidate but he later resigned from the party as well as from Lok sabha.

•He founded Rashtriya Lok Dal and got re-elected in the by-election conducted in 1997. 

•Though he lost the Lok Sabha General Election, he was re-elected in 1999, 2004 and 2009.

•He served as the Union Minister of Agriculture under Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government from 2001-2003. 

•He had joined the United Progressive Alliance in 2011 and served as the Union Minister of Civil Aviation from December 2011 to May 2014.