BJP MP from Pune Lok Sabha constituency and senior leader Girish Bapat passed away in Pune on Wednesday morning at the age of 72. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter-in-law. BJP’s Pune city president Jagdish Mullick informed the media about the demise of the veteran leader. He said that popular BJP MP Girish Bapat is no more among us today. He passed away some time ago. Bapat was undergoing treatment in the hospital for the last one and a half years.
Jagdish Mullick said that this is a blow to the BJP workers across the state. Bapat (72) has been suffering from respiratory problems for the past few months and is also undergoing dialysis at the hospital.
Senior BJP leader Girish Bapat’s health was deteriorating this morning. Bapat was currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU ward) of Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune. He was put on a ventilator as his condition turned critical. BJP workers gathered outside Dinanath Mangesh Hospital on the news of Bapat’s death. Big leaders including Chandrakant Patil, and Devendra Fadnavis left for Pune.
Girish Bapat was one of the senior BJP leaders and dominated Pune politics for many years. However, for the last few years, Girish Bapat was away from politics due to a serious illness. His tenure in the assembly constituency was almost over. When the BJP party was in trouble in the recent Kasba Peth by-election, Girish Bapat participated in the meeting of the workers bypassing his illness. Even while coming to this meeting, Girish Bapat had a tube in his nose and an oxygen cylinder with him.
Even in such a situation, Girish Bapat tried to motivate the BJP workers by guiding them. While speaking in this meeting, Girish Bapat was having difficulty in breathing. However, Girish Bapat achieved his feat by sheer force of will.
Girish Bapat reached the polling booth in Kasba Peth assembly by-election sitting in a wheelchair with a nasal cannula machine. Bapat was elected MLA five times from this seat. He became the Member of Parliament from Pune in 2019.