Indian Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde had served as deputy leader of Modi's BJP in parliament. PHOTO: FILE
Munde was injured while driving to the capital's airport and died later in hospital.
"An accident took place earlier in the morning, following which he was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. Doctors declared him dead at about 8 am," Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters.
Munde, 64, was conscious and able to talk to his bodyguard after the accident. He died in hospital from cardiac arrest, Gadkari added.
Modi expressed his condolences on Twitter.
Condolences to Munde ji's family. We stand by them in this hour of grief.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 3, 2014
My tributes to a dynamic leader whose premature demise leaves a void hard to fill.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 3, 2014
Gopinath was deputy chief minister in the western state of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999 and elected twice to India's lower house of parliament, in 2009 and 2014. He had served as deputy leader of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in parliament.
The position of rural development is a crucial one in Modi's government, which faces a huge challenge to tackle rural poverty. Over half the population lives in the countryside but generates just 14 percent of gross domestic product.
Modi won a landslide victory in last month's general election, ending a decade of rule by the Congress party that has dominated Indian politics since independence.
COMMENTS (9)
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I wonder why people are taking umbrage to ROFLs comment??!! He's speaking what he's been taught; just shows the values imbibed in him and the class he belongs to. Pay no attention.
@ROFL: Such a nasty comment about. A dead person ou did not even know and has not harmed you.
ET mods were you sleeping when ou allowed his comment?
ET Mods- Does the comment of @ROFL meet your comment guidelines? Please remove such an offensive comment.
@ROFL. As if life is eternity for you. There are only two truths in life. Birth and Death.
Well look.. these ministers think they are all important. The traffic should stop. Planes shouldn't land when they are taking off. Our lives should come to a halt when they pass by. All lights should turn green, except the one on the roof of their car which should flash red.They can magically drive on the other side of the road. And, oh yes, overtake with impunity as long as they have that red or blue light on the roof flashing. As if that will make the on coming truck vanish like Harry Potter's magic. Lets hear what traffic rules his all important driver was breaking... oh a minister !!!.. hes invincible!!. Till I hear the details, I'm not shedding any tears. You don't get flattened by a truck if you follow rules (which ministers don't, because suddenly they have become Gods)
ET : Please correct your news. At the time of accident he was travelling without any security and bodyguard, only his driver and PA was with him.
A strong contender to the Chief Minister post for the state of Maharashtra. Gopinath Munde was a strong leader of BJP in Maharashtra, coming from backward class.
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