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Former Rajasthan CM passes away

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, DEC. 23. The former Rajasthan Chief Minister, Heeralal Devpura, died here on Wednesday evening following a cardiac arrest. The 79-year-old Mr.Devpura, who was Chief Minister for a brief period in the State from February 22 to March 9, 1985, leaves behind a son and a daughter.

Mr.Devpura had been ailing for some time. The end came around 11.15 pm before he could be taken to the Sawai Man Singh Hospital just across his residence on the Ram Singh Road.

The Rajasthan Government today announced a state mourning for Mr.Devpura. All the Government offices and educational institutions remained closed for the day as a mark of respect.

The Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, former Chief Ministers, S.C.Mathur and Ashok Gehlot and the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, B.D.Kalla condoled the death of Mr. Devpura who had represented Kumbalgarh constituency in the State Assembly six times.

Ms.Raje reached the residence of the Devpuras early morning today to condole the death, before the body was taken by road to Khelwara, the native village of departed leader, in Rajsamand district.

Born on October 15, 1925, Mr.Devpura, was first elected to the State Assembly in 1967. He had been a minister in the Governments headed by the late Mohanlal Sukhadia, the late Harideo Joshi and S.C.Mathur. He had also held the post of the Speaker of the Rajasthan Assembly.

During the time of the previous Congress Government headed by Mr.Gehlot in the State, Mr.Devpura was the chairman of the State Finance Commission on devolution of funds to panchayati raj institutions. Mr.Devpura was considered to be close to the Nehruvian group in the Congress.

The funeral at Khelwara in the evening was attended by a large number of people including the Assembly Speaker, Sumitra Singh, the Home Minister, Gulab Chand Kataria, the Ministers, Bhawani Joshi, Chunnilal Dhakkad, Kalulal Gujjar and Surendra Singh, the former Chief Ministers, S.C.Mathur, Ashok Gehlot and Congress leaders, Girija Vyas, Gulab Singh Shaktawat and C.P.Joshi.eom

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Former Rajasthan CM passes away

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