Maharashtra agriculture minister Fundkar dead

Mumbai: Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar died here today after a brief illness, an official said.

He was 67.

The senior BJP leader was a three-term MP and a former president of the Maharashtra party unit. The legislator first became an MLA in 1978.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condoled Fundkar’s demise, and recalled his late cabinet colleague’s contribution to the party and farmers’ development.

State BJP chief Raosaheb Danve said Fundkar was a farmers’ leader and did justice to the portfolio he held, after being inducted in the Fadnavis ministry in July 2016.