Former Union Minister Murli Deora dies at 77 after prolonged illness

Murli bhai, as he was known, died around 3:25 am. He had been unwell and was hospitalised. He had come home two days ago, family sources said.

In pics — Murli Deora: 1937-2014

Deora’s mortal remains would be kept at the Mumbai Congress office, where party workers would pay their last respects from 12 noon to 2pm. His last rites would be performed at Chandanwadi Crematorium later in the day, the family sources said.

Congress leader Nasim Khan, B A Desai, Amin Patel at Murli Deora,s Residence Ramalaya at Peddar road today – Ganesh Shirsekar.

Deora, who held several important portfolios during his decades-long career, first contested the civic elections in Mumbai in 1975.

An economics graduate, Deora was Mayor of Mumbai from 1977 to 1978 and was later elected to the Lok Sabha four times from Mumbai South, a seat later held by his son, Milind, who is also a former MP and ex Union minister. Currently, he was serving his third term as a Rajya Sabha MP.

He held the portfolio of Petroleum and Natural Gas during the UPA–I regime. The Congress veteran had also served as the Mumbai Congress President for 22 years.

He joined the Union Cabinet in 2006, shortly before he turned 70 and led oil diplomacy in Myanmar, Algeria and Egypt, and held talks with ministers from Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia and Comoros.

Deora House.

Deora also hosted the first India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference and Exhibition in November 2007. In July 2011, Deora became Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology.

Antim Darshan will be at MRCC from 12-2PM on Monday, followed by a procession from MRCC to Chandanvadi Sonapur between 2 and 3PM. The funeral will be at Chandanvadi Sonapur at 3PM.