Former Union minister and Bihar MP Digvijay Singh passes away

Mangalore Today News Network

June 24: Digvijay Singh, former Union minister and a sitting Lok Sabha MP, died on Thursday following a brain hemorrhage. He was 55.

Singh, who was Minister of State for External Affairs in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, had come to London along with the Commonwealth shooting team recently, when he suffered a heart attack. He was admitted to St Thomas hospital here where he suffered a brain hemorrhage.

Singh is survived by his wife and two daughters. His elder daughter and wife were in London as he was under treatment.

A five-time Member of Parliament, Singh was at present representing Banka constituency in the Lok Sabha as an independent. He was earlier elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998 and 1999. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1990 and 2004.

Singh, who was a close associate of former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar, had served as Minister of State for Railways and MoS for External Affairs in his government.

He had fought the last Lok Sabha election independently after he being denied ticket by JD(U). Singh, who belonged to Rajput community in Bihar, had fallen out with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar before the last general elections.

JD(U) general secretary and spokesperson Shivanand Tewari said Singh was active in politics since his student days and was also a member of Lohia Vichar Manch. He was one of the founder members of Samta Sangathan formed in Bangalore in 1980.

Singh was also the President of the National Rifle Association of India.