Darda passes away

He held many key portfolios in almost all the Congress governments in the State from 1980 onwards in Cabinets headed by A R Antulay, Babasaheb Bhosale, Vasantdada Patil, Shivajirao Nilangekar, Sudhakarrao Naik and Sharad Pawar.

Governor P C Alexander condoled Darda’s death saying that with his demise, the State had lost one of its efficient leaders in politics and journalism. Prime Minister I K Gujral too condoled the death saying he was a well known public figure who would be remembered for his long years of public service, both as a minister and also a person who worked with dedication for promoting the cause of the fourth estate. Condolences poured in from all parts of the country. Congress president Sitaram Kesri spoke to Darda’s son Vijay Darda, managing editor of Lokmat publications, on telephone this morning and conveyed his regret. Kesri described Darda as a staunch Congressman.

Sharad Pawar, in his condolence message said, “He was a great freedom fighter and after independence had worked for the development of Congress in Yawatmal. He was in the legislative council for over 25 years.” He added that Darda was a great administrator and in his death the party has lost a senior colleague.

Darda’s body will be flown to Nagpur this evening, where it will be placed in the Lokmat Bhavan for people to pay their last respects. The body will be taken to Yawatmal tonight. It will be kept at Gandhi Bhavan in Yawatmal. The cremation will take place at Darda Udhyan tomorrow. State Housing Minister Sureshdada Jain, who is a relative of Darda will accompany the body to Yawatmal.

Darda was actively involved in the co-operative and agricultural movement in the State. A close associate of Vidarbha Kesari Brijlal Biyani and former chief minister Vasantrao Naik, Darda, had keen interest in social, cultural and educational fields. He set up the Amolakchand Darda Mahavidyalaya, which runs several colleges and other educational institutions in the Vidarbha region. As a young lad, Darda participated in the Quit India movement in 1942 and founded the Young India association.

Like most leaders of his generation, Darda rose from the grassroots to the post of Cabinet minister in successive Maharashtra Cabinets. He was the chairman of Maharashtra State Housing Finance Corporation. He founded the Lokmat group of publications, which has today grown into a leading chain of newspapers in the state with multi-editions. He was elected treasurer of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) in 1978. He was elected to the State Legislative Council in 1972, 1978, 1984 and 1990.

Darda joined the Vasantdada Patil ministry as energy minister in 1978. He resigned from the party and joined the Congress (I) faction led by Indira Gandhi the same year.