MLA heart attack at Shinde home

Newly-elected Congress MLA from Nagpur Govindrao Wanjari died here tonight following a massive heart attack. Wanjari complained of chest pain while he was at Varsha, Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s official residence, earlier in the day. He was immediately rushed to a city hospital where he died at 9.45 pm.

Wanjari was elected to the Assembly from the prestigious South Nagpur constituency by defeating BJP’s sitting MLA Mohan Mate by a margin of over 9,000 votes. He succeeded in snatching the seat held by BJP for 10 years. In 1999 too, Marzban Patrawala, Congress MLA — elected from Colaba constituency in South Mumbai — had died of a heart attack soon after the elections.

The news of Wanjari’s demise came as a shock for top Congress leaders who were busy increasing the tally of legislators who would support their party for a showdown with the NCP.