Indian opposition leader Pramod Mahajan dies

May 3, 2006, 15:46 GMT

New Delhi - India's senior opposition leader, Pramod Mahajan, who was shot by his younger brother recently, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.

Mahajan, 56, general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a former federal minister, was shot by his estranged younger brother Pravin Mahajan after an altercation on April 22.

He breathed his last at 1610 hours (1040 GMT) after his condition worsened in the last 48 hours.

Doctors at Mumbai's Hinduja Hospital, where Mahajan was admitted, said he had developed acute respiratory distress due to three bullet wounds, which claimed his life. He also suffered from multiple organ failure.

'It is with deep regret we have to announce that Pramod Mahajan, who has been battling for life for the last 12 days, succumbed to his bullet injuries,' hospital chief Pramod Lele told reporters.

'He was suffering from ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) for the past four days, and that is what has caused his demise,' another senior doctor flanking Lele said.

Mahajan underwent four surgeries in the hospital's intensive care unit, India's NDTV reported.

Pravin, 46, whose lawyer claims he is mentally unstable, is in police custody and has been charged with murder.

He has told the police that he shot Pramod because he often humiliated him and refused to help him monetarily or in his business.

Among India's well-known political figures, Mahajan's death came as a major setback to the BJP. He was among the top BJP leaders and was tipped to be the next party president.

Mahajan was known as the architect of the party's recent electoral campaigns. He was also one of the party's key fundraisers and was often used as a trouble shooter in internal disputes by the BJP leadership.

Party leaders and functionaries gathered at BJP headquarters in New Delhi where the party flag was lowered at half-mast.

Senior leaders from various political parties offered their condolences over the death of Mahajan who is survived by his wife and two children. His funeral is scheduled to take place on Thursday noon at Mumbai's Shivaji Park.