By IANS
Mumbai : The last rites of senior Shiv Sena leader and former legislator Pramod Navalkar, who died following a heart attack Tuesday evening, were performed Wednesday at Girgaum here.
A close friend and confidante of Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray since the firebrand organisation’s inception in 1966, Navalkar became the first Shiv Sena legislator in 1972.
A prolific writer and journalist, Navalkar held the cultural affairs portfolio in the 1995-99 Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led alliance government in Maharashtra.
Former Shiv Sena legislator Ravindra Mirlekar was with 72-year-old Navalkar and his wife Vandana when he collapsed within minutes of complaining of chest pain Tuesday evening at his residence in Girgaum.
Among the first to rush to Navalkar’s residence as the news of his demise spread were Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray’s wife Sharmila and mother Kundatai followed by Shiv Sena leaders and workers.
Leader of opposition in the Maharashtra assembly Ramdas Kadam rushed here from Nagpur where he was attending the winter session of the legislature along with some party legislators.
Legislators of all parties paid homage to the departed leader Wednesday at a condolence meeting held at the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur.