Former Bihar governor Vinod Pande died at his Noida residence today due to heart failure, at the age of 72. A bureaucrat, Pande had also served as governor of Arunachal Pradesh.Family sources said Pandey, who was a bachelor, will be cremated at Nigambodh Ghat tomorrow, at 10.30 am.Condoling his death, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said, ‘‘Pande was an able administrator during his long career as a civil servant and also during his stint in public life as governor’’. Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat also expressed grief over Pande’s death.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a separate condolence message, recalled that Pande had made several important contributions to the country during his career.During his term as Bihar governor, Pande shot into controversy when he invited then Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar to form a short-lived government in 2000. Pandey was charged with acting under the pressure of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.Controversy dogged Pande when he was transferred to Arunachal Pradesh, where he was accused of honouring the demand of the then CM Gegong Apang, by recommending imposition of President’s Rule and dissolution of the Assembly. Later, he sought to backtrack on it. Known for his proximity to V.P. Singh, Pande became cabinet secretary when Singh was PM during 1989-90.
